Welcome to the forefront of conversational AI as we explore the fascinating world of AI chatbots in our dedicated blog series. Discover the latest advancements, applications, and strategies that propel the evolution of chatbot technology. From enhancing customer interactions to streamlining business processes, these articles delve into the innovative ways artificial intelligence is shaping the landscape of automated conversational agents. Whether you’re a business owner, developer, or simply intrigued by the future of interactive technology, join us on this journey to unravel the transformative power and endless possibilities of AI chatbots.
Why turn to artificial intelligence rather than a friend? For young people, it often comes down to not having to worry about what a peer or a parent thinks.
That’s one takeaway from a new report by San Francisco-based Hopelab and the Harvard Graduate School of Education, which surveyed 30 people between 14 and 22 and examined their use of AI chatbots.
Researchers found that some teenagers and young adults turned to chatbots because they wanted to avoid burdening their friends with problems. They liked that AI companions are accessible at all hours and felt they were nonjudgemental. Some can offer more concrete advice than their friends.
One teenage boy, for instance, was nervous about playing in a soccer game, said Emma Bruehlman-Senecal, Hopelab’s principal researcher. When he asked his father for advice, his dad said to just “focus on the game.” But when the boy asked AI for the same advice, it offered breathing exercises and suggestions about how to be present.
Participants acknowledged that chatbots can be sycophantic and pandering, but some still regarded AI advice as more neutral compared to friends who may carry personal biases.
California passed a law in 2025, backed by the tech industry, requiring AI developers to put some guardrails on their chatbots, including monitoring chats for signs of suicidal thoughts. That same year, Gov. Gavin Newsom also vetoed a stricter proposal that would have limited minors’ access to chatbots.
Bruehlman-Senecal says policymakers who want to protect young people from AI should collaborate with youths who often use the technology. Legislators should also aim to preserve the benefits kids find in chatbots — such as its ability to give immediate and actionable advice — while minimizing the harms of AI.
And how would Bruehlman-Senecal, who has a young child, feel about her kid using an AI chatbot?
Focus on Inland Empire: Each Wednesday, CalMatters Inland Empire reporter Aidan McGloin surveys the big stories from that part of California. Read his newsletter and sign up here to receive it.
Speaking of AI, a health worker union is accusing Kaiser Permanente of violating state law for allegedly using algorithms and AI to make care recommendations without a clinician’s oversight, writes CalMatters’ Ana B. Ibarra.
In a complaint against the health provider, the National Union of Healthcare Workers said Kaiser uses a digital screening tool that evaluates patients who think they may be experiencing anxiety or depression. Patients answer a questionnaire and the tool “automatically and instantaneously generates care recommendations,” based on the answers, according to the complaint.
The union says this practice is illegal, since state law requires medical decisions to come from licensed healthcare professionals and bans AI and algorithms from superseding that judgment.
A Kaiser spokesperson said the company does not use AI to “diagnose patients, make clinical decisions, or determine medical necessity.”
The Department of Managed Health Care, which oversees health plans, said it is investigating the union’s complaint.
Read more.
In 2025 a single lawyer in Kings County represented almost 600 poor people accused of crimes.
That figure, which rivals some of the worst public defense caseloads in the nation, does not even include the attorney’s private personal injury clients.
A new report on California’s privatized public defender systems highlights these high caseloads and connects them to the way many counties pay their defenders: through flat-fee contracts.
The report builds on a CalMatters investigation that exposed problems with the system by looking at one firm that’s become known as the WalMart of Public defense.
Read more.
A court-appointed monitor evaluated a new immigration detention center in California City and found that the facility “lacks a reliable system to consistently provide adequate health care.” The review is related to an ongoing court case involving detainees who are suing over the center’s conditions. Read more from CalMatters’ Nigel Duara.
Two views on Proposition 40, a ballot measure to tax California billionaires:
The measure will make billionaires pay their fair share in taxes, keep hospitals open and help fund medical care for seniors, veterans and families, writes Erica Olivo Reynoso, a licensed vocational nurse at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center.
Prop. 40 risks dependable, recurring revenue for a temporary infusion of money, and once that money is spent, California could be left with a smaller tax base, writes Ahmad Thomas, CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group.
Some stories may require a subscription to read.
CA House Republicans ask Trump administration to block state’s new tax // The Sacramento Bee (gift link)
Sen. Schiff wants to crack down on paid influencers and AI campaign ads // San Francisco Chronicle (gift link)
CA’s solution for its deadliest bridge: A steel fence and AI // Voice of San Diego (free)
Next stop for CA’s high-speed rail: Finding private investors // Grist (free)
SF mayor backs national robotaxi rules after Waymo meltdowns // Politico (free)
CA will add science scores to its school accountability system // EdSource (free)
New visa rules create more uncertainty for international students // LAist (free)
UC doctors seek to unionize 10,000 colleagues in massive campaign // KQED (free)
Lynn La is the newsletter writer for CalMatters, focusing on California’s top political, policy and Capitol stories every weekday. She produces and curates WhatMatters, CalMatters’ flagship daily newsletter… More by Lynn La
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