Partner Michael Manoukian was featured in a recent Los Angeles Times article examining how California’s expansive artificial intelligence (AI) legislation is setting a national benchmark as Congress continues to stall on federal regulation.
Manoukian explains that although other states are not adopting California’s framework word‑for‑word, they are “borrowing key principles and replicating California initiatives” as they craft their own rules. He emphasizes that “California is acting as a legal bellwether – advancing bold, carefully tailored policies that are shaping the national conversation on AI.”
The article highlights several of California’s key laws – most prominently SB 53, the Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act – which establishes guardrails for advanced AI systems through safety protocols and whistleblower protections. Additional measures, such as SB 243 and AB 1043, further demonstrate California’s aggressive regulatory stance. Manoukian also emphasized that states across the political spectrum are drawing from California’s early frameworks, pointing to examples like Tennessee’s ELVIS Act and emerging election-related AI disclosure laws in Wisconsin and Texas. Together, these developments underscore how California’s policymaking continues to shape the direction of AI regulation nationwide.
Read the full Los Angeles Times piece here: California’s AI Laws Are Setting the National Trend