California Gov Newsom boosts AI regulation as he eyes 2028 presidential run

What the report says

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has renewed his push for stronger artificial intelligence oversight as he nears the end of his final term and weighs a possible 2028 U.S. presidential run, according to Al Jazeera. The move comes in California, where many major AI companies are based and where state policy is often seen as influential beyond the state line.

Al Jazeera reported that Newsom signed an executive order directing state officials to look at independent verification of AI models and to study “kill switch” or shutdown mechanisms for AI systems that could behave dangerously. The order also asks for recommendations from the state’s Emergency Services Office by mid-November and could lead to a special legislative session to consider next steps. The governor had previously vetoed a similar bill in 2024, arguing at the time that it would hinder innovation.

The article says the new order revives some of the ideas that were in that vetoed bill, though in a narrower form. California later enacted a separate frontier AI law in 2025 requiring larger developers to report certain serious safety incidents. Experts quoted by Al Jazeera said the latest order signals concern about AI risks, but also falls short of the broader safeguards sought in earlier proposals.

The development matters because California is home to a large share of the AI industry and often sets standards that other states and countries watch closely. It also highlights the political salience of AI safety, job disruption and corporate power as Newsom positions himself for a national campaign.