California Launches Teen Tech Council to Shape AI and Digital Wellness Policy
The state is recruiting youth advisors to influence AI safety and regulation in a new partnership with #HalfTheStory.
California has launched its first-ever Teen Tech Council to integrate youth perspectives into state-level decisions on artificial intelligence and digital wellness. Led by First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Governor Gavin Newsom, and the non-profit #HalfTheStory, the initiative aims to transition teenagers from passive technology users to active policy contributors.
The program debuted with an inaugural roundtable in Sacramento featuring 20 teenagers representing more than 10 school districts. During the session, participants focused on critical emerging issues, including AI safety, the proliferation of deepfakes, the integration of generative AI within classrooms, and the necessity of AI literacy. Governor Newsom noted that the move is essential because the policies developed today will shape the world these young people inherit.
A Growing National Model
California is the second state to implement this specific advisory model. New York pioneered the approach through a partnership between Governor Kathy Hochul and the Clinton Foundation. The impact of that initial model has been significant; official data indicates the New York Teen Tech Council reached more than 17,000 students during its last school year.
This council is an outcome of the California Innovation Council and operates in tandem with #HalfTheStory. Larz May, the founder and executive director of #HalfTheStory, stated that his vision is to ensure teens help shape their future at this turning point in humanity and AI rather than simply inheriting the results.
Integration with State AI Policy
The Teen Tech Council serves as a complementary piece of Governor Newsom's broader AI regulatory strategy. This includes the creation of the California Innovation Council and the signing of the Transparency in Frontier Technology Act (SB 53).
Furthermore, the council aligns with other youth-centric tech mandates, such as the Phone-Free School Act, as well as existing legislation targeting child online safety and illegal deepfakes. By creating a formal pipeline for youth feedback, the state is attempting to build a blueprint for "responsible innovation" that accounts for the generation most impacted by these technologies.
Next Steps for Expansion
The initiative is now moving from a pilot phase to a statewide operation. Recruitment for the full California Teen Tech Council is scheduled for Fall 2026. Once the members are selected, the state will implement a structured rollout of leadership training and advocacy programming in Spring 2027. These programs are designed to equip the student advisors with the tools necessary to contribute meaningfully to the state's regulatory and social frameworks.