Artificial intelligence technology.

Senator Ashby's artificial intelligence legislation establishes new requirements for AI technology providers and expands legal protections against the misuse of digital replicas. The bill requires companies selling or providing access to AI systems that create digital replicas to include consumer warnings about potential civil and criminal liability by December 2026, with violations subject to daily penalties of up to $25,000.

The legislation expands California's existing false impersonation laws to explicitly cover digital replicas, defining their unauthorized use as a form of false personation when intended to deceive. It also modifies civil liability provisions to include digital replicas alongside other protected personal identifiers like name, voice, and likeness, allowing individuals to pursue damages for unauthorized use.

To address evidentiary challenges, the bill directs the Judicial Council to evaluate how artificial intelligence impacts court proceedings and develop rules by January 2027 for assessing claims about AI-generated or manipulated evidence. The Department of Consumer Affairs must establish standardized warning language by July 2026 and oversee enforcement through civil actions, with penalties directed to the state's General Fund.