CA SB896: Generative Artificial Intelligence Accountability Act.

In one paragraph

California's SB 896, the Generative Artificial Intelligence Accountability Act, governs state government's use of generative AI. The Department of Technology updates the state's GenAI report under Executive Order N-12-23 as needed; the Office of Emergency Services, as appropriate, analyzes GenAI threats to critical infrastructure, including mass-casualty events, with an annual summary to the Legislature. Agencies using GenAI to communicate directly with people about government services and benefits must disclose it and say how to reach a human. Signed September 29, 2024 (Chapter 928); effective January 1, 2025.

Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.

What it means for business

No duties for businesses. It governs California state agencies' use of generative AI, including AI disclaimers and human-contact information when agencies use GenAI to communicate with people about services and benefits.

Key provisions

1. 1Adds Gov. Code §§ 11549.63-11549.66 (Chapter 5.9, Generative Artificial Intelligence Tools); GenAI means AI that can generate derived synthetic content, including text, images, video and audio, that emulates its training data
2. 2The Department of Technology, under the guidance of the Government Operations Agency, the Office of Data and Innovation and the Department of Human Resources, updates the report to the Governor required by Executive Order N-12-23 as needed, consulting academia, industry experts and state employee representatives as appropriate
3. 3The Office of Emergency Services, as appropriate, analyzes potential GenAI threats to California's critical infrastructure, including those that could lead to mass casualty events, reports to the Governor with any recommendations, and submits a high-level summary to the Legislature annually
4. 4State agencies must consider procurement and enterprise uses where GenAI can improve the efficiency, effectiveness, accessibility and equity of government operations; agency counsel must consider GenAI's impact on regulatory issues and recommend updates if appropriate
5. 5A state agency using GenAI to communicate directly with a person about government services and benefits must include a disclaimer that the communication was generated by GenAI: prominently at the start of letters, emails and other written messages; displayed throughout chatbot and video interactions; and spoken at the start and end of audio
6. 6Those communications must also include information, or a link to it, on how to contact a human employee of the agency
7. 7Signed by the Governor September 29, 2024 (Chapter 928, Statutes of 2024); effective January 1, 2025

Latest legislative action

Sep 29, 2024. Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 928, Statutes of 2024.

Sponsors

Roll call votes (showing 3 of 9)