Gov. Newsom has signed a new AI bill into law that places limits on companies creating digital AI replicas. For example, this law now requires permission from the family of deceased individuals before a company can create AI avatars, reproduce their voice, or develop AI-powered digital twins.

I recently created an AI version of myself and interviewed it. From that experience, I can say the technology to create these digital twins is evolving rapidly. At last year’s SXSW, a digital AI version of Marilyn Monroe was on display. More recently, ElevenLabs signed deals with several celebrities, allowing their voices to be used on the company’s platform. Meanwhile, CGI technology has advanced to the point where it can convincingly recreate or de-age celebrities.

These safeguards seem like a smart move, but they also raise a new question families need to consider: Should your will include instructions on whether you’d allow your information to be used for creating an AI version of yourself after you die? Would you permit your kids to license your voice or a scan of your body so that you could continue working and earning money in the afterlife?

Gov. Gavin Newsom Signs Bills Regulating AI Performance Replicas Into Law

In a symbolic move, the governor visited the Los Angeles headquarters of performers’ union SAG-AFTRA to greenlight the legislation: “We’re making sure that no one turns over their name, image and likeness to unscrupulous people without representation.”