In the final weeks of his tenure, California Governor Gavin Newsom has issued an executive order calling for independent verification of artificial intelligence models while establishing an expert committee to explore emergency kill switches for rogue AI agents. The move marks a sharp pivot from his previous legislative stances.

Back in 2024, Newsom famously vetoed a state bill that demanded similar stringent requirements, claiming at the time that such measures would allegedly thwart technological innovation. Critics point out that as his final term winds down and with rumors of a 2028 presidential run swirling, the American politician is attempting to salvage his safety credentials by reviving aspects of the defeated legislation.

Analysts suggest the timing indicates political maneuvering rather than genuine regulatory reform. Alex Hanna, director of research at the Distributed AI Research Institute, noted that Newsom is in a lame-duck period and is essentially setting up his next political move to appease voters increasingly anxious about automation and data security risks.

Industry watchdogs and policy experts remain skeptical about the effectiveness of the new executive order. Unlike the previously blocked Senate Bill 1047, which mandated rigorous ex-ante safety obligations, the newly formed committee's mandate on kill switches is perceived as a watered-down measure designed to generate headlines without alienating powerful tech stakeholders.

Source: www.aljazeera.com