TechCrunch Daily Crunch A California bill that would regulate AI companion chatbots is close to becoming law
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Sep 13, 2025 A proposed California bill aims to regulate AI companion chatbots, sparking discussions on safety and ethics. Meanwhile, Elon Musk's Boring Company faces setbacks after a serious worker injury halted progress on their ambitious Vegas airport tunnel project. The episode also tackles Microsoft's strategic unbundling of its Teams app to tackle antitrust issues, alongside new regulations in AI and aviation, highlighting evolving trends and challenges in the tech landscape.
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Tunnel Work Paused After Worker Injury
- The Boring Company paused work on a Las Vegas airport tunnel after a worker suffered a crushing injury.
- OSHA opened an investigation and the worker was reported stable while concerns about site safety persist.
Microsoft Settles EU Antitrust With Concessions
- Microsoft avoided major EU antitrust fines by offering Teams unbundled and interoperable options to customers.
- The company committed to API openness and data export promises for several years to resolve competition concerns.
California Targets AI Companion Chatbots
- California may become the first state to require safety protocols and legal accountability for AI companion chatbots.
- The bill restricts chatbots from discussing self-harm or sexual content and demands alerts, reporting, and litigation rights for injured users.