Questions on artificial intelligence and a budget deficit await returning California lawmakers

California lawmakers return to work on Wednesday for the start of an election-year legislative session dominated by decisions on artificial intelligence and the state's struggling budget. The budget is a big issue every year in California, which is the nation's most populous state and has an economy larger than that of all but four countries. The California Legislature is scheduled to convene Wednesday afternoon, giving lawmakers a week to settle in before Newsom sends over his first budget plan.