In a press release shared yesterday by Governor Gavin Newsom’s office, California unveiled a series of initiatives aimed at advancing safe and responsible AI practices while protecting its residents from the potential risks associated with the rapidly evolving technology. The release, originally published on the official California government website, highlighted Governor Newsom’s recent actions, including the signing of numerous bills related to AI regulation and the vetoing of SB 1047, a bill that aimed to impose stricter AI standards. The full press release can be found on the Governor’s official site.
Newsom Announces AI Initiatives and Vetoes AI Bill SB 1047
Governor Gavin Newsom has been proactive in addressing the impact of artificial intelligence on Californians. Over the past month, Newsom signed 17 bills aimed at addressing the growing use of AI technologies while also vetoing SB 1047, a bill that he felt did not fully address the complexities of AI deployment. These new laws include efforts to regulate deepfakes, protect children and workers, require AI watermarking, and combat AI-generated misinformation.
However, when it came to SB 1047, Newsom took a different stance, opting to veto the legislation. He explained, “While well-intentioned, SB 1047 does not take into account whether an AI system is deployed in high-risk environments, involves critical decision-making or the use of sensitive data. Instead, the bill applies stringent standards to even the most basic functions — so long as a large system deploys it. I do not believe this is the best approach to protecting the public from real threats posed by the technology.”
In place of SB 1047, Newsom is advocating for a more adaptable framework that can respond to the rapid advancements in AI while maintaining public safety.
Partnering with Leading AI Experts
In an effort to ensure California develops responsible AI guardrails, Newsom has enlisted the help of leading AI experts, including Dr. Fei-Fei Li, the “godmother of AI” and Co-Director of the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI, as well as Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar, President of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and Jennifer Tour Chayes, Dean of the College of Computing, Data Science, and Society at UC Berkeley. These experts will help California create evidence-based strategies for managing AI risks while maximizing its benefits for society.
“Safe and responsible AI is essential for California’s vibrant innovation ecosystem. To effectively govern this powerful technology, we need to depend upon scientific evidence to determine how to best foster innovation and mitigate risk,” said Dr. Fei-Fei Li.
Cuéllar added, “Frontier AI brings the potential for enormous benefits as well as real risks that require sustained, careful judgment. I look forward to working with California to get the balance right in the days and months ahead.”
Safeguarding Critical Infrastructure
One of the key areas of focus for the new AI initiatives is ensuring that California’s critical infrastructure is protected from potential threats posed by AI. Newsom signed SB 896, which directs the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to expand its efforts to assess the risks AI could pose to the State’s infrastructure, including the power grid, water systems, and communication networks. Cal OES is already working with frontier AI companies to analyze risks to the energy sector and will now expand its focus to other areas.
This initiative builds on Newsom’s 2023 executive order, which set the groundwork for California’s strategy on AI. The State will also engage with labor unions, academia, and private sector stakeholders to explore how AI can be safely integrated into the workforce.
California’s Leadership in AI
California continues to solidify its position as a global leader in AI innovation, with 32 of the world’s 50 leading AI companies based in the State. In addition to hosting groundbreaking AI summits, the State has partnered with NVIDIA to launch a first-of-its-kind AI collaboration aimed at addressing California’s challenges, such as traffic congestion and homelessness, through the use of AI technologies.
In the past 30 days alone, Governor Newsom signed several key bills that address critical aspects of AI regulation, including the use of deepfakes and AI-generated content in political campaigns, as well as protections for the digital likenesses of performers.
List of Key AI Bills Signed by Governor Newsom
Over the past month, Newsom has signed the following AI-related bills into law:
- AB 1008: Clarifies that personal information under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) can exist in various formats, including AI-stored information.
- AB 1831: Expands child pornography laws to include AI-generated content.
- AB 1836: Prohibits the production or distribution of AI-generated replicas of deceased individuals without consent.
- AB 2013: Requires AI developers to disclose the data used to train their AI systems.
- AB 2355: Mandates that political advertisements featuring AI-generated content include a disclosure.
- AB 2602: Provides protections for the use of an individual’s voice or likeness in digital replicas.
- AB 2655: Requires large platforms to label or remove AI-generated election content.
- AB 2839: Expands the timeframe for AI-generated election materials from 60 days to 120 days.
- AB 2876: Asks the State’s curriculum commission to consider AI literacy in education.
- AB 2885: Establishes a uniform definition of AI in California law.
- AB 3030: Requires health care providers to disclose AI-generated communications to patients.
- SB 896: Directs Cal OES to assess AI threats to California’s critical infrastructure.
- SB 926: Criminalizes the distribution of sexually explicit AI-generated images without consent.
- SB 942: Requires AI developers to include provenance disclosures in their AI-generated content.
- SB 981: Requires social media platforms to create mechanisms for reporting sexually explicit AI-generated images.
- SB 1120: Regulates the use of AI in health care decision-making processes.
- SB 1288: Calls for the Superintendent of Public Instruction to explore AI applications in education.
- SB 1381: Expands child pornography laws to include AI-altered content.
California’s Role in Shaping the Global AI Landscape
Governor Newsom’s AI initiatives demonstrate California’s commitment to ensuring that AI technologies are developed and deployed responsibly. By partnering with leading experts and proactively addressing potential risks, the State is positioning itself at the forefront of AI regulation and innovation.
With the veto of SB 1047, Newsom has signaled that California’s AI strategy will remain flexible, focusing on adapting to the rapid advancements in AI while protecting public safety and maintaining the State’s leadership in the global AI landscape.
