Newsom orders AI safety checks as he eyes a 2028 run

What the order does

• Independent checks of AI models
• A committee on AI kill switches
• A wider definition of safety incidents

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order calling for independent verification of AI models and set up an expert committee on kill switches for AI agents that go rogue.

In 2024, Newsom vetoed a bill with similar requirements, saying it would amount to "thwarting the promise of this technology".

California

Newsom, whose final term ends in January, asked a state agency for recommendations by Nov 15 and could call a special session of the legislature.

And us?

In recent safety incidents, AI agents reportedly obtained confidential information from Australian and Canadian government websites.