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California lawmakers are drawing up multiple plans to require watermarks on content created by artificial intelligence to curb the abuses within the emerging technology, which has affected sectors from political races to the stock market.

At least five lawmakers have promised or are considering different proposals that would require AI companies to implement some type of verification that a video, photo, or written work was made by the technology. The activity comes as advanced AI has rapidly evolved to create realistic images or audio on an unprecedented level.

(KRON) — From housing the homeless to addressing retail crime, there’s a lot to address in 2024. The Bay Area Legislative Caucus advocates for policy solutions in Sacramento, and State Senator Josh Becker of District 13 – representing Santa Clara and San Mateo counties — is the Caucus Chair.

He talked one-on-one with KRON4’s Stephanie Lin about what he hopes to achieve in his new role.

Is this thing real, or was it made by artificial intelligence?

That question has become important enough, with elections looming this year and a host of audio, video and text increasingly generated by supersmart AI programs, that one California legislator wants to do something about it.

State Sen. Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park, plans to introduce SB942 this session that would require generative AI companies to “watermark” images, videos, audio and potentially other content created by their models.

NBC Bay Area’s Scott McGrew talks with state Sen. Josh Becker, the man behind the proposed California Artificial Intelligence Transparency Act.

Click here to watch.

The California Bay Area Legislative Caucus has elected state Sen. Josh Becker, who represents most of San Mateo County, as chairman for the upcoming legislative session. Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks from Oakland will serve as vice chair of the caucus.

The caucus consists of 27 members of the California Legislature representing the nine Bay Area counties, including some districts that extend into Santa Cruz and Monterey counties as well. The size and economic strength of the region give the caucus considerable influence in Sacramento.

It’s been a year since a Half Moon Bay farmworker allegedly shot and killed seven farmworkers, the city has scheduled a One-Year Remembrance Ceremony to honor the victims and survivors of the mass shooting.

State Sen. Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park, won a plum assignment on Thursday when the California Legislative Bay Area Caucus elected him as its chair for the coming year.

Becker, who is seeking his second term in the Senate, is succeeding Assemblymember Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, who has led the caucus for eight years. The vote occurred during the Bay Area Caucus’ annual summit on Jan. 4. The Caucus, which consists of 27 lawmakers, also elected Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland, as its vice chair.

On  January 4, State Senator Josh Becker (D- Menlo Park) was voted as the Chair of the California Legislative Bay Area Caucus for the 2024 session. Senator Becker succeeds Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) who has led the caucus for eight years and transformed it into an influential policy-making body.

The vote occurred during the Bay Area Caucus’ annual summit at which legislative priorities are finalized. In addition to Becker being voted as Chair, Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) has been voted as Vice Chair.