During a talk at the Google office in San Francisco on August 7, 2025, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a collaborative initiative with top technology firms aimed at creating a workforce prepared for the advancements in artificial intelligence. This effort, titled "Creating an AI-Ready Workforce," seeks to equip California’s students and workers for future technological developments.
In a significant move, Governor Newsom has enacted a pioneering law that prohibits employers in California from relying exclusively on artificial intelligence when making decisions about employee discipline or termination. Named SB 947 or the No Robo Bosses Act, this legislation restricts the use of automated decision-making systems in the workplace, ensuring that human judgement remains central in such critical matters.
The law mandates that employers who utilize AI predominantly for disciplinary actions must have a human reviewer affirm these decisions based on additional inputs such as performance reviews, peer assessments, and other personnel data. Moreover, workers impacted by such AI-led decisions are entitled to written notification elucidating how AI influenced their employment status, the data that informed the AI’s decisions, and a human contact for further clarification.
Senator Jerry McNerney, a Democrat and the author of the bill, emphasized to CNBC the importance of keeping human oversight in decision-making processes while acknowledging AI's potential to enhance productivity. "No worker should ever be disciplined or terminated by an algorithm," he stated, underlining that AI should assist rather than control human judgment.
The passage of this bill reflects the ongoing efforts from organized labor within the state to regulate AI usage in the workplace, following initial resistance from Newsom when he vetoed the same proposal in October 2025. With extensive support from both legislative chambers, the No Robo Bosses Act was reintroduced in February after the removal of certain contentious provisions, including a notification requirement for employees whenever AI systems are applied to their jobs and provisions for gig workers.
Support for the bill has been bolstered by an increasingly skeptical public regarding AI's role in work. A July Gallup poll revealed that 39% of Americans now believe AI poses more dangers than benefits, a significant increase from prior years. Public sentiment has shifted further with concerns about automation displacing jobs, echoed in a Pew Research study indicating that 71% of Americans fear AI will lead to job losses.
As the political landscape evolves, particularly with Governor Newsom potentially eyeing a presidential run in 2028, the discussion around AI regulation is becoming more prominent, cutting across party lines. Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton expressed agreement with the No Robo Bosses Act, highlighting the importance of human accountability in employment decisions influenced by AI.
With California's new law as a national benchmark, the state's decision marks a significant shift in how workplaces might adopt AI technologies. While other states have explored similar regulations, none have yet matched the comprehensive framework established by California's legislation.
As the first law of its kind in the United States, the No Robo Bosses Act may inspire other regions to enact similar protective measures for workers against the unregulated use of AI in employment contexts. Civil rights organizations, such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation, have praised the law as a positive step toward safeguarding human dignity in the face of increasing automation in workplaces.
