Technology

CalMatters reporter Sameea Kamal asks Gov. Gavin Newsom a question at a press event at San Quentin State Prison announcing that the facility will be transformed to focus on training and rehabilitation on March 17, 2023. Photo by Martin do Nascimento, CalMatters

Commentary

Should tech giants have to pay California newspapers for their content?

The once-profitable and powerful newspaper industry has been clobbered by the growth of the internet. The California Legislature is considering a bill that would compel major tech companies to pay newspapers for their content.

By

Dan Walters

• August 7, 2024

Illustration of a chalkboard obscured by a purple cloud of abstract shapes, including a network of circles; a student is in the foreground looking confused

Technology

California’s two biggest school districts botched AI deals. Here are lessons from their mistakes.

Educators can learn caution from AI mistakes in Los Angeles and San Diego. But they also face pressure to adopt the technology quickly.

By

Khari Johnson

• August 6, 2024

An angled photo of Mark Zuckerberg in front of a red, blue and white screen with the words AI in white.

Commentary

California shouldn’t buy Big Tech talking point that AI regulation will hurt innovation

Silicon Valley companies say a bill that would establish safety requirements for AI development will tamp innovation and chase companies outside of California. Their fearmongering could not be more wrong.

By Sunny Gandhi • August 5, 2024

Illustration by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

California Divide

10 years later, California may finally allow undocumented immigrants cell service subsidies

Advocates say the California Public Utilities Commission’s 10-year-old promise to make the state’s cell phone service subsidy program available to undocumented immigrants could be fulfilled in November.

By

Alejandra Reyes-Velarde

• July 30, 2024

In an effort to reduce counterfeit and credit card fraud more than 200 million payment cards are embedded with computer chips in the U.S. Photo by Mike Blake, Reuters

Commentary

As California cracks down on ‘junk fees’ it’s overlooking a major culprit: credit card companies

Americans pay more than $25 billion annually in hidden fees when they use credit cards, but the new junk fee rules don't cover these lenders.

By Rodney Williams • July 26, 2024

A protester holds up a red, white and black sign against proposition 22 during a protest.

Economy

Uber, Lyft, DoorDash workers remain contractors due to California Supreme Court ruling

State’s highest court refuses to overturn voter-backed Prop. 22, a law written by the gig industry. The ruling means gig workers will remain independent contractors.

By

Levi Sumagaysay

• July 25, 2024

Illustration of a child with a backpack and cap seen from behind, standing amidst towering browser window; through a central opening, a sparkling emerald city is visible in the distance

Education

Frustrated by school web filters, one teenager created his own

During early COVID lockdowns, a teen worked with his family to raise $1.8 million in venture funding and built a web filter with a team of data scientists and psychologists that he now hopes will help students safely surf the web.

By

Tara García Mathewson

• July 24, 2024