Gavin Newsom Issues Executive Order on AI Oversight, Including Potential 'Kill Switch'
California Governor Gavin Newsom has issued an executive order to advance state-led oversight of artificial intelligence (AI), including the potential requirement for a “kill switch” in frontier models. The directive mandates forming an expert group within two months to recommend safety measures such as independent audits, transparency standards, and incident reporting protocols. It also accelerates implementation of recent AI-related laws signed by Newsom. With Congress unlikely to pass significant legislation before the midterms due to recesses and political gridlock, California is positioning itself as a leader in AI regulation. Newsom has urged federal lawmakers and President Donald Trump to adopt or build upon his state’s framework for oversight. He emphasized that urgent action is necessary given warnings from industry experts about potential existential risks posed by advanced AI systems. The executive order reflects growing concerns over the safety of frontier models, highlighted recently when a former Anthropic researcher warned of an over 10% chance AI could cause human extinction within a decade.
Topics: AI regulation California policy executive order Gavin Newsom