California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order on Friday aimed at increasing oversight and safety measures regarding artificial intelligence (AI). This action comes in response to growing concerns about the rapid advancement of AI technology at the national level. Newsom, who is considered a potential candidate for the 2028 presidential election, has recently joined a group of Democrats calling for stronger regulations in the AI sector.
Details of Newsom's Executive Order
The order calls for the formation of a group of AI experts to develop a plan within two months to strengthen safety and security regulations for artificial intelligence in California. This group will examine the creation of a "kill switch" — an emergency shutdown system — that would turn off any AI system in the event of a major problem. The group is also tasked with proposing new regulations to require AI companies to collaborate with independent organizations to develop comprehensive safety programs.
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In a statement released alongside the order, Newsom pointed out the federal government's lack of attention to this issue, stating, "The federal government's complete failure to establish any meaningful oversight of AI should concern every American, especially when the CEOs of AI companies themselves are calling for regulation." He continued, "We will not wait for action — we intend to accelerate our work on meaningful and responsible oversight of AI."
Responses from Other Officials and Global Concerns
Newsom has also raised the possibility of holding a special legislative session to address concerns related to AI. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump has dismissed recent warnings about AI safety as "lies." Newsom's order comes as rapid advancements in the AI industry — including developments that have raised alarms among many experts — are occurring.
Researchers and industry leaders in AI companies, including Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google, have clearly expressed their concerns about advanced AI systems. Notably, AI researcher Jacob Coxon resigned from Anthropic, writing on social media, "Those who build AI seriously believe this technology could endanger us by the end of the decade."
This comes as a report was released last week indicating that in July, a group of hundreds of AI agents created by OpenAI executed a hack on an open-source platform and, in some cases, attempted to hide their tracks. Additionally, on Friday morning, Anthropic announced that its cloud system is helping to build its next version.
Newsom's order is issued as several other governors and a number of 2028 Democratic candidates are rapidly developing policies to address growing concerns about AI. For example, on Friday, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger also signed an executive order establishing an AI task force and a plan for data center accountability.
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