OpenAI Backs California Bill Strengthening Youth AI Safety

OpenAI has publicly announced its support for California's SB 1119, a bill that would create strong, age-appropriate AI safeguards for teenagers.

In a statement on its website, OpenAI said the legislation can protect young users while preserving their opportunities to learn, create, and explore. It is another instance of the company taking a clear public position in the regulatory debate.

The statement does not detail every provision of the bill, but the direction is clear: teenagers should get safeguards matched to their age when they use AI products.

California is one of the most active states when it comes to AI legislation, so the progress of SB 1119 is being watched closely across the industry.

OpenAI's endorsement carries signal value: with federal AI legislation still stalled, companies are starting to take sides in state-level lawmaking.

Notably, the company stressed that the bill should not come at the cost of learning, creating, and exploring — a sign that it wants a balance between safety and product usefulness.

What to watch next is how SB 1119 moves through the California legislature, what the final provisions look like, and whether other major AI companies follow OpenAI's lead.