California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order on AI safety. It tasks experts with drafting recommendations within two months. The state may require third-party safety plans for frontier AI firms. Companies could also be forced to add a kill switch for their models. Newsom cited federal inaction on AI oversight. He said California already has the strongest AI regulatory framework in the U.S. The order builds on a law he signed earlier this month for third-party AI auditors. Newsom has not yet announced a 2028 presidential run but is considering it.
What changed
California had no state-level AI safety framework beyond existing laws.
What it unlocks
State agencies can now mandate third-party AI safety audits and emergency shutdowns.
- 2 months to draft recommendations
- January 4, 2027 term end for Newsom
Sources