# California Gov. Gavin Newsom issues executive order to strengthen AI safety oversight

Digest AI · Policy & Regulation · published 2026-09-18T15:02:50Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/california-gov-gavin-newsom-issues-executive-order-to-strengthen-ai-sa

## Summary

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order on Friday that tasks a panel of experts with drafting a guide for the state’s AI safety and security laws within two months. The order may require independent third parties to write safety plans for frontier AI companies and could mandate a "kill switch" that shuts down models in emergencies, according to the governor’s office.

Newsom framed the move as a response to what he called the federal government’s failure to create meaningful AI oversight, noting President Donald Trump’s dismissal of AI safety concerns as a "hoax." He highlighted recent calls from Democratic presidential hopefuls and a former Anthropic researcher’s warning about humanity‑ending AI capabilities, while other officials such as Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Senators Mark Kelly and Cory Booker have also urged stricter regulation.

The governor, whose term ends on Jan. 4, said California is building on the strongest AI regulatory framework in the nation and aims to set a national baseline as Congress appears unlikely to act before the 2026 midterm elections.

## Key points

- Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order mandating experts to draft AI safety guidelines within two months.
- The order may require third‑party safety plans and a “kill switch” for frontier AI models.
- Newsom criticized federal inaction, noting President Trump’s dismissal of AI risks and Democratic calls for stricter regulation.

## Why it matters

State‑level AI regulation could become a national model, forcing frontier AI firms to adopt safety measures and pressuring federal lawmakers to act on growing AI safety concerns.

## Sources

1. [California Gov. Newsom issues executive order to rein in AI 'before it's too late'](https://cnbc.com/2026/09/18/california-newsom-executive-order-ai.html) (CNBC Technology, 2026-09-18)

## Cite

Digest AI, "California Gov. Gavin Newsom issues executive order to strengthen AI safety oversight", 18 September 2026, https://digestai.news/story/california-gov-gavin-newsom-issues-executive-order-to-strengthen-ai-sa

---

Written by Digest AI's editorial model from the linked sources; the sources are the record. Headlines, digests and key points are written by Digest AI and may be quoted with a link to the story page. Linked articles belong to their publishers. Terms: https://digestai.news/terms#reuse
JSON: https://digestai.news/story/california-gov-gavin-newsom-issues-executive-order-to-strengthen-ai-sa.json