This week’s stories are about tech and sustainability, coming from Japan and USA

1-California enacts landmark AI Safety Law

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law the Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act (SB53), a landmark measure establishing some of the most comprehensive AI safety rules in the United States.

SB53 follows an earlier, more sweeping proposal — SB1047, introduced in 2024 — that would have required developers of advanced AI models to conduct rigorous safety tests before release. That bill drew fierce opposition from tech industry groups who argued it would stifle innovation. Facing mounting criticism, Newsom vetoed the measure last September, warning that it could create “a false sense of security” by focusing only on the most powerful models.

In response, Newsom convened the California AI Policy Working Group, a panel of researchers tasked with recommending a more balanced framework. The group’s final report, released in June, called for targeted regulation to address “material harms” without hindering growth. Wiener’s office revised the bill accordingly, and SB53 passed the Legislature in September before Newsom signed it into law.

SB53 requires developers of large “frontier” AI models — those exceeding certain computational thresholds and generating more than $500 million in annual revenue — to publish detailed safety and transparency frameworks on their websites.

The law mandates public transparency reports outlining how companies assess catastrophic risks, implement safety standards and handle critical incidents. Developers must also submit regular summaries of risk assessments to the state’s Office of Emergency Services.

To strengthen accountability, the measure protects whistleblowers who disclose credible safety concerns and directs the state to create a public reporting system for AI-related safety incidents.

Gavin Newsom, Governor of California (Photo: Governor’s Press Office)

2-SoftBank to buy ABB Robotics Unit for $5.4 billion

Japan’s SoftBank Group announced will acquire the robotics division of Swiss engineering giant ABB for $5.4 billion.

I saw this story at Cnbc and the deal, subject to global regulatory approval, means ABB will abandon plans to spin off its robotics business as a separately listed company. ABB said the sale will generate about $5.3 billion in cash and create “immediate value” for shareholders, adding that proceeds will be used in line with its existing capital allocation principles.

SoftBank founder and CEO Masayoshi Son described the acquisition as a step toward what he calls “Physical AI,” combining robotics and advanced artificial intelligence, according to the story.

Son’s concept of Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI) envisions AI systems that are 10,000 times more intelligent than humans. He has sought to position SoftBank at the center of the AI revolution through a string of high-profile investments, including stakes in OpenAI and chip designer Arm Holdings.

SoftBank’s latest deal builds on its long-standing interest in robotics. The conglomerate previously held investments in companies such as AutoStore Holdings and Agile Robots, and in 2012 acquired a majority stake in French robotics firm Aldebaran, launching the humanoid robot Pepper two years later. Though Pepper failed to gain commercial traction, robotics has reemerged as a strategic priority for SoftBank, the story noted.

SoftBank to buy ABB Robotics Unit for $5.4 billion (Photo: Getty Images)

3-Apple launches forest restoration project

Apple  announced a new sustainable forest management initiative aimed at restoring and protecting thousands of acres of coastal redwood forest in Northern California, part of the tech giant’s broader effort to reach carbon neutrality by 2030.

I read this story at ESGtoday and the project focuses on the Gualala River Forest in Mendocino County, a large stretch of coastal redwood forest that supports hundreds of wildlife species and contributes to local economies across California’s northern coast.

Apple said the effort is part of a long-term partnership with The Conservation Fund, a U.S.-based nonprofit that purchases and safeguards at-risk forests. Under the agreement, The Conservation Fund will continue to manage the forest sustainably, while Apple will receive carbon credits generated through the forest’s natural growth and carbon storage over time, according to the story.

The new project expands Apple’s Restore Fund, launched in 2021 in collaboration with Conservation International and Goldman Sachs to promote investment in ecosystem protection and natural carbon removal. The fund grew in 2023 with a $200 million investment managed by Climate Asset Management and again in 2025 through Apple’s direct investments in nature-based projects across the U.S. and Latin America. Suppliers including TSMC and Murata have also joined the initiative.(By the way I have a story here about Apple Turkey)

So far, Apple said it has backed more than two dozen conservation and regenerative agriculture projects across six continents through the Restore Fund, the story noted. The company aims to reduce its global emissions by 75% from 2015 levels and use verified carbon removal projects to offset the remainder.

Apple added that it has already achieved a 60% reduction in emissions and is working with suppliers to remove 9.6 million metric tons of carbon annually by 2030 through nature-based initiatives.

Apple launches forest restoration project