Gavin Newsom is pushing for an AI kill switch

California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order directing experts to recommend stronger state AI safety measures within two months. The review will consider requirements for onsite independent audits, standardized transparency reports and risk assessments, and a potential kill switch for advanced AI models.

California is positioning itself as a leading AI regulator as federal rules remain fragmented. If adopted, measures like independent verification and shutdown mechanisms could set a template for frontier AI oversight that influences companies nationwide.