Governor Newsom Taps AI Experts to Lead California's Artificial Intelligence Safety Efforts

“We will thoughtfully—and swiftly—work toward a solution that is adaptable to this fast-moving technology,” said Governor Newsom.Photo byZHENYU LUOonUnsplash

Sacramento, CA – Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a bold new initiative to ensure the safe and responsible deployment of generative AI (GenAI) technologies in California. Leading the effort will be Dr. Fei-Fei Li, renowned as the "godmother of AI," Tino Cuéllar, a member of the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Social and Ethical Implications of Computing Research, and Jennifer Tour Chayes, Dean of Computing, Data Science, and Society at UC Berkeley.

The announcement follows the Governor's veto of legislation that failed to adequately address GenAI’s evolving risks. Over the past month, Newsom signed 17 bills aimed at regulating GenAI, making California a global leader in AI safety measures. These bills target issues like deepfakes, AI-generated misinformation, and child protection, while also introducing AI watermarking standards.

Governor Newsom emphasized California’s responsibility to protect its residents from the potential dangers of GenAI while ensuring the technology's benefits are harnessed for the public good. The Governor’s initiative will focus on developing science-based guardrails for AI and exploring ways to responsibly integrate it into the workplace.

“We will thoughtfully—and swiftly—work toward a solution that is adaptable to this fast-moving technology,” said Governor Newsom.