California and AI: July 8, 2025

Join Capitol Weekly and the University of California Student and Policy Center for: California and AI, a conference on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 in Sacramento.

California is a global leader in AI technology. Now, California lawmakers are tasked with creating legislation and regulations that will help the state maintain leadership in this emerging industry, while creating guardrails that protect Californians. Legislators have introduced over 30 AI-related bills this session, and nearly 20 AI bills were signed into law by Governor Newsom in 2024. Whatever the answers, California’s approach to AI will have an impact. Solutions created here will have outsized influence in other states and internationally.

To view the event program with bios of participants, please click here.

Three panel discussions and a keynote from Senator Scott Wiener explored how we balance safety and security while avoiding overregulation.

Panel 1 (9:30-10:30AM)
The Here and Now: A Levelset

Find a podcast and transcript of Panel 1 here.

Mona Pasquil Rogers, Meta; Jonathan Mehta Stein, California Initiative for Technology and Democracy (CITED); Camille Crittenden, Ph.D., CITRIS; Ramesh Srinivasan, UCLA School of Education & Information Studies

Moderated by Robin Epley of the Sacramento Bee

Panel 2 (10:45-11:45AM)
California: A Leader in AI Technology

Luncheon Keynote (Noon)
Senator Scott Wiener

Find a podcast and transcript of the Keynote here.

Panel 3 (1:00-2:00PM)
The Promise and the Peril: Legislative and Regulatory Policy

Jason Elliot, Versus; Shane Gusman, Broad and Gusman; Sacha Haworth, Tech Oversight Project; Jon Ross, KP Public Affairs

Moderator: Rich Ehisen, Capitol Weekly

California and AI will be held from 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at the UC Student and Policy Center in Sacramento. There is no cost to attend, but seating is limited and registration is required.

Registration includes lunch and all conference materials. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required.

Media coverage is invited. Call 916 444 7665 or email Melody.Gere@capitolweekly.net to arrange press credentials.

California and AI will be held from 9:00AM – 2:00PM, Tuesday July 8, 2025 at The UC Student and Policy Center, 1115 11th St, Sacramento, CA 95814.

For Registration information contact Melody Gere at (916) 444 7665 or [email protected].

For Sponsorship information contact Tim Foster at (916) 612 2613 or [email protected].

For questions about content, please contact Rich Ehisen at (916) 402-4886 or [email protected].

Thanks to our sponsors:

THE TRIBAL ALLIANCE OF SOVEREIGN INDIAN NATIONS, WESTERN STATES PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION, KP PUBLIC AFFAIRS, PERRY COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, CAPITOL ADVOCACY, THE WEIDEMAN GROUP, CALKIN PUBLIC AFFAIRS, STUTZMAN PUBLIC AFFAIRS, LUCAS PUBLIC AFFAIRS and CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS