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California Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered the creation of a panel to develop safety regulations for the state's artificial intelligence (AI) companies.
Announced this morning, the initiative aims to address concerns over AI programs potentially going rogue. The panel will explore the possibility of implementing a "kill switch" for such scenarios.
According to a statement from the governor's office, the executive order calls for "a group of world-leading experts" to guide the state in strengthening its AI security laws. The panel may propose that independent third parties draft safety plans or that companies develop emergency shutoff measures.
The move comes amid growing concerns about AI's impact on safety and privacy. Earlier this year, Newsom issued an executive order directing state agencies to study AI's effects on the labor market and to recommend policy updates. The order also tasked agencies with reviewing worker protection laws and developing recommendations for revisions to the California Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, which could lead to changes in layoff notice requirements related to AI-driven workforce changes.
The panel's recommendations are expected to influence future legislative or regulatory proposals in California.
For more information on the executive order, visit the CDF Labor Law Blog and Ogletree Deakins.