Golden State Today

California is reinforcing its position as a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI) with the release of a new draft working report. This document, developed by prominent AI experts and academics, was commissioned by Governor Gavin Newsom to guide the responsible use of AI technology.

Governor Newsom highlighted California's pivotal role in advancing AI, stating: “The future happens in California first – including the development of powerful AI technology. As home to over half of the world’s top AI companies, our state carries a unique responsibility in leading the safe advancement of this industry in a way that improves our communities, maintains our economic dominance, and ensures that this fast-moving technology benefits the public good.”

The report focuses on creating workable guardrails for deploying generative AI (GenAI), analyzing its capabilities and associated risks based on empirical data. Notable contributors include Dr. Fei-Fei Li from Stanford University, Mariano-Florentino “Tino” Cuéllar from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and Dr. Jennifer Tour Chayes from UC Berkeley.

The working paper suggests evidence-based policymaking and invites public input from academics, experts, and other stakeholders on their recommendations.

California has been proactive in shaping GenAI policy through various initiatives. In 2023, Governor Newsom signed an executive order to guide ethical GenAI procurement within the state. The following year saw further efforts to utilize GenAI technologies for societal challenges like traffic reduction and homelessness.

In May 2024, Governor Newsom co-hosted a summit to explore how best to deploy this transformative technology for Californians' benefit. By August 2024, California partnered with NVIDIA on an innovative collaboration aimed at training students and workers while fostering job creation and innovation through AI.

Efforts to address potential threats have also been prioritized. Legislation signed last year targets issues such as sexually explicit deepfakes and requires AI watermarking to protect digital likenesses and election integrity.