California is among the states leading the US’ efforts to regulate AI to make it safer and fairer, proposing legislation to limit workplace monitoring and modifications to employment regulations to address the use of automated-decision systems. However, its latest initiative takes a broader approach, seeking to regulate tools used to make consequential life decisions.

Indeed, California assembly member Rebecca Bauer-Kahan introduced AB-331 in January 2023 to prohibit the use of automated decision tools that contribute to results in algorithmic discrimination. This is defined as differential treatment or impact that disfavours people based on their actual or perceived race, colour, ethnicity, sex, religion, age, national origin, limited English proficiency, disability, veteran status, genetic information, reproductive health, or any other classification protected by state law. In this blog post, we outline 10 things you need to know about AB-331.