California is moving toward tougher AI safeguards, with Gov. Gavin Newsom ordering a review that could lead to an emergency “kill switch” for some advanced AI models.<\/p>\n
Newsom announced Friday he had signed an executive order<\/a> directing state officials to speed up two new AI oversight laws and convene experts to recommend additional protections.<\/p>\n Among the ideas under review is requiring companies developing powerful “frontier” AI models<\/a> to build an emergency shutoff that could disable a model if serious safety problems emerge. The group will also study whether independent monitors should be placed inside AI labs to conduct regular audits.<\/p>\n The order does not immediately require AI companies to install a kill switch.<\/p>\n Instead, state officials and outside experts have until Nov. 16 to recommend possible changes to California law.<\/p>\n “We’re not waiting to act \u2013 we’re going to speed up our work on substantial and responsible AI oversight before it’s too late,” Newsom said in a statement.<\/p>\n The kill-switch idea revisits an idea included in legislation Newsom vetoed two years ago. In 2024, he rejected SB 1047<\/a>, which would have required developers of certain powerful AI models to maintain the capability to promptly enact a full shutdown.<\/p>\n Since then, California has enacted several additional AI laws.<\/p>\n