California Signs Landmark New AI Workplace Laws On Termination, Layoffs And Surveillance

California has moved to regulate how employers use artificial intelligence in the workplace, with several AI-related employment bills signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on September 30, 2026. The measures include SB 947, the “No Robo Bosses Act,” which prohibits employers from relying solely on an automated decision system for disciplinary or termination decisions. Where employers mainly use an automated output, a human must review and corroborate it using underlying data or other supporting information, and written notice must be given at the time of the decision. SB 947 also bars using AI to infer protected status or violate civil rights laws, taking effect July 1, 2027. SB 951 updates California’s WARN Act for mass layoffs linked to AI, with requirements starting January 1, 2027.