A bill aimed at addressing risks related to artificial intelligence in health care has been approved by the California Legislature and now awaits Governor Gavin Newsom’s signature. The legislation, Assembly Bill 489, is sponsored by the California Medical Association (CMA) and authored by Assemblymember Mia Bonta.
AB 489 prohibits AI systems from being misrepresented as licensed medical professionals. It also gives state health professions boards, including the Medical Board of California and the Board of Registered Nursing, clear authority to enforce title protections for health care workers. The goal is to ensure that new technologies are used in ways that protect patient safety and support trust between patients and physicians.
“Patient trust is the cornerstone of medicine, and AB 489 helps preserve that trust in an era of rapidly advancing technology,” said CMA President Shannon Udovic-Constant, M.D. “By ensuring patients know when they are interacting with artificial intelligence systems rather than a licensed clinician, this bill safeguards transparency, accountability and the integrity of medical care. CMA thanks Assemblymember Bonta for championing this vital protection.”
Reports have shown that as AI becomes more common in health care settings, there have been cases where chatbots were mistaken for licensed professionals, which could result in patients following inaccurate or unsafe advice. The new bill seeks to prevent such situations by requiring responsible and transparent use of AI systems.
The bill passed with significant support—39 yes votes in the Senate and 79 yes votes in the Assembly—highlighting broad legislative backing for measures intended to maintain high standards of patient care as technology evolves.
