In the AIs of the Law 👩🏻‍⚖️👀

👀 TLDR

In this week’s What’s Appening, we cover the passing of California’s SB 243 bill, making it the first US state to pass meaningful laws regulating AI chatbots. There’s a lot in the bill, but at its heart is the protection of minors. In additional guardrail news, Instagram is also taking signficant steps to protect minors, with sweeping changes across the app. We also have news on OpenAI’s latest chips deal, how UK companies are being advised to get the pen and paper out to survive cyber-attacks, Google allowing you to hide sponsored links, as well as the latest from 3Advance.

🔥 Vibe & Validate with 3A: Workshop, Prototype and Roadmap in ONE Week 🔥

🎬 Our Top Take

🔞👩🏻‍⚖️ AI - California Becomes First State to Regulate AI Companions

There are voices that claim that the regulation of AI will cause the US to relinquish its lead in the global race to control the technology. Yet, the case of Adam Raine, who took his own life after conversations with ChatGPT, as well as the underreported case of a 13-year-old girl from Colorado, who died after role-playing with Character AI, has strengthened the need for guardrails, especially when it comes to children. Yesterday, California became the first state to pass laws to regulate AI companion chatbots, which will take in everything from ChatGPT to more overt AI ‘friends’ like Replika. There are numerous aspects to the legal framework, but we think the most important ones fall under the category of Transparency. The law will prohibit AIs from posing as therapists or healthcare professionals, will force the bots to give periodic reminders that they are AIs and not real companions, and provide on-screen warnings on social media that the conversations are with a bot. There’s also a range of safety measures for kids, including prompting the kids to take a break, mandatory age verification, and a ban on sexually explicit topics. Operators must also implement measures to detect and respond to suicide and self-harm risks. The new law, termed SB 243, will come into force on January 1st, 2026. #GuardRails Read more here.

📲 App of the Week: RunPee

We have a bit of a quirky App of the Week today: RunPee is designed to help those of us who have small bladders and who need to, err, pee with frequency. The app’s main feature is that it will tell you the best point of a movie, i.e., the boring part, to head to the restroom for some relief. The app will vibrate to remind you that it’s a good time to sneak out, and it even provides a short synopsis of what you missed when you return. New movies are added weekly. It’s a great idea and 100% free. Check it out for iOS here and Android here.

🧐 Stat of the Week: 80%

📈📉 AI – Financial Experts Begin to Ponder the “B” Word

A staggering 80% of all US stock gains recorded this year have been attributed to companies involved with AI. That sounds great if you’re loaded up with Nvidia stock, but some experts are worried that this is a bubble that will more than match the Dot-Com crash at the turn of the Millennium. Many are pointing to the merry-go-round of deals between companies (see OpenAI’s latest chip deal below), leading to confusion about who is exactly worth what. “There are many parts of AI that I think are kind of bubbly right now." – Sam Altman in a recent interview with the BBC. You can decide for yourself if that sounds ominous or not. #Bubbly Read more here.

🗞️ Other Stories

📍 Meanwhile at 3Advance

We’ve been walking alongside Footsteps with Jesus since launch – and this week’s update makes the journey even better. The app just introduced a lifetime free subscription, giving users full access to devotionals, verses, and milestones from Jesus’ 1,650-mile journey across the Holy Land. From daily reflections to location-based stories, Footsteps with Jesus continues to bring faith to life – one step at a time. Check out Footsteps with Jesus on the App Store and Google Play.