issue: AI

Hollywood weighed in on the legislation Tuesday, as more than 120 actors and producers — including “Star Wars” director JJ Abrams, “Moonlight” actor Mahershala Ali and “Grey’s Anatomy” creator Shonda Rhimes — signed a letter asking Newsom to sign the bill into law. One of California’s most prominent unions, SAG-AFTRA, as well as influential feminist groups including the National Organization for Women, have sent similar letters to the governor.

Meta has hosted events to rally startups in San Francisco against the bill. Wiener on Tuesday hosted a virtual press conference that included the National Organization for Women along with youth groups and doctors urging Newsom to sign the bill into law by the Sept. 30 deadline.

Bear Atwood with NOW — The National Organization for Women — says if left unchecked, AI poses health and safety risks. “Women are the first to be exploited, attacked, abused online in the most invasive ways possible. And with AI, what’s possible changes every day,” said Atwood. “We call on Gov Newsom to sign.”

Sen. Scott Wiener has a couple of high-profile bills on Newsom’s desk, and he’s holding events to try to persuade the governor to sign them. Monday, the San Francisco Democrat joined doctors, pharmacists and patients in support of his bill that would tighten regulations on pharmacy benefit managers — intermediaries between drug manufacturers and insurance companies — in hopes of reducing prescription drug prices. And today, Wiener plans to gather with the National Organization for Women, youth groups and others to push his legislation on artificial intelligence safety that has drawn national attention and is strongly opposed by Big Tech.