California Proposes Kids AI Safety Act to Protect Children from AI Harms

States like California and Texas are taking the lead on AI regulation amid stalled federal efforts driven by President Trump's push for deregulation. California's laws, including Senate Bill 53 and the California Kids AI Safety Act, aim to protect children from potential harms of AI chatbots and social media algorithms through restrictions on access, data protections, and third-party audits. Meanwhile, device makers like Google and Apple are integrating AI features into phones without clear user controls or transparency on data access, raising privacy concerns. Studies reveal that AI assistants such as Google Gemini and ChatGPT sometimes produce inaccurate news summaries, with users attributing some blame to original news sources and calling for regulation. These state-level policies not only address safety and privacy risks but could serve as models for future national AI regulatory frameworks. Advocates argue current laws are insufficient, highlighting the need for stronger safeguards and clearer accountability in AI deployment.