Tom Steyer’s brother is a clue to how he’d regulate AI as governor

Tom Steyer’s brother is a clue to how he’d regulate AI as governor

https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/05/tom-steyer-brother-common-sense/

Publish Date: 2026-05-04 08:20:00

Source Domain: calmatters.org

Here are six key points from the article by Jeanne Kuang, CalMatters:

1. Significance of the Steyer Family Influence: Before embarking on his campaign for California governor, billionaire Tom Steyer benefited from the political influence of his family, notably his brother Jim Steyer, CEO of Common Sense Media, an influential California nonprofit that campaigns for stricter content regulations, particularly for children’s media and recently for social media and AI chatbots.

2. Potential Impact on California Tech Policy: If Tom Steyer wins the governorship, California’s stance on tech regulation could shift towards stricter policies due to his progressive platform that promotes aggressive regulation for industries like tech, aiming to ensure child safety in the AI era and requiring safety audits on social media.

3. Juxtaposition with Current Governor’s Policy: This would mark a shift from the current Governor Gavin Newsom’s policies, which attempt to balance tech regulation with fostering the technology sector in California.

4. Potential Influence of Jim Steyer’s Organization: Jim Steyer’s Common Sense Media, along with its founder’s views, is likely to wield significant influence over California tech policy if Tom Steyer becomes governor, since tech industry advocates anticipate this.

5. Policy Debate Regarding Social Media and AI Protection for Minors: There is an ongoing debate about restricting social media use for children under 16 and the regulation of AI chatbot interactions with minors, where Common Sense Media, alongside industry resistance, plays a notable role in shaping legislative discussions.

6. Dynamics Between the Brothers: Tom Steyer has stated that while he respects his brother’s expertise, he is not inclined to “slavishly” follow Jim Steyer’s views on tech policies, indicating a potential independent policy direction independent of familial ties.

The article explores how the Steyer family’s influence might shape the future of tech regulation in California should Tom Steyer win the governorship.