California Governor Newsom Orders New Review of AI Safety Rules

Summary

California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order aimed at addressing potential risks from artificial intelligence. The order directs a group of experts to produce recommendations within two months for strengthening the state’s AI safety and security laws. Possible measures include requiring independent third parties to prepare safety plans for frontier AI companies and requiring companies to develop an emergency “kill switch” for their models. Newsom said the federal government had failed to establish meaningful AI oversight and argued that California should act while Washington remains unlikely to pass significant AI legislation before the 2026 midterm elections. The order follows heightened concern in Washington and nationwide after an Anthropic researcher warned publicly about potentially catastrophic AI capabilities. Newsom also cited California laws already in force, including a framework for third-party AI auditors, and presented the state’s approach as a possible national baseline. The executive order begins a recommendation process; the article does not say that the proposed requirements are already law.