California’s AB 1018 vs the EU AI Act — same goal, different routes

Plain-English guide to how California’s new Automated Decision Systems bill compares to Europe’s AI law — and what OpenAI, Anthropic and other builders should actually do.

Why it matters

AI already helps decide who gets a job interview, a loan, a flat, or faster triage in hospital. California’s AB 1018 and the EU AI Act both aim to stop unfair or unsafe outcomes — but they use very different playbooks. If you build or sell AI, understanding both lets you design one sensible compliance approach and ship with fewer legal sur…