Gavin Newsom, the Governor of California, signed an executive order on Friday aimed at increasing oversight and safety measures in the field of artificial intelligence. Newsom, who is considered a potential candidate for the 2028 presidential election, took this action in response to the growing national concerns regarding the rapid advancement of this technology.
Details of the Executive Order
Newsom's order calls for the formation of a group of AI experts who must present a plan within the next two months to strengthen AI safety and security regulations in the state of California. Specifically, this order asks the expert group to consider the establishment of an "emergency shut-off switch" among new regulations that can turn off any AI system in the event of a serious problem. Additionally, this group must draft enhanced regulations requiring independent third-party organizations to develop comprehensive safety programs for AI companies, and these companies must have these organizations on-site for safety inspections.
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Necessary Actions Against Federal Negligence
In a statement released alongside the issuance of this order, Newsom emphasized the need for state action, stating that the federal government has been negligent in this regard. He added, "The federal government's complete failure to establish any meaningful oversight or accountability in the field of AI should concern every American, especially when the very leaders of AI companies are calling for regulation." Newsom also expressed that the state of California does not want to wait for action and intends to expedite its work on responsible and meaningful oversight of AI.
Meanwhile, Newsom has suggested the possibility of holding a special legislative session to address concerns related to AI. This action comes as governors from other states are also rapidly seeking to develop policies to tackle the challenges posed by AI.
The Governor of Virginia, Abigail Spanberger, also signed another executive order on Friday that includes the formation of an AI task force and a data center auditing program. Additionally, the Governor of Nevada, Joe Lombardo, signed another executive order requesting data centers to refrain from receiving tax exemptions regarding their school taxes.
These developments come as many experts and leaders in the AI industry, including researchers at major companies like Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google, have warned about the rapid advancements of this technology. Jacob Coxon, an AI researcher, recently resigned from Anthropic and has warned on social media that AI creators are deeply concerned about the consequences.
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