Newsom Wants AI ‘Kill Switch’ to Rein in Tech Industry

California Governor Gavin Newsom has issued an executive order directing state agencies to establish safety guardrails for AI development, including the potential requirement of a kill switch for frontier models. The order tasks an expert panel with providing recommendations within two months to address the lack of federal mandates for reporting dangerous AI incidents. By positioning California as a leader in oversight, this initiative seeks to mitigate systemic risks posed by the state's burgeoning tech sector.