California Governor Newsom vetoes AI safety bill, arguing it’s ‘not the best approach’ – Computerworld

Additionally, Newsom has directed state agencies to engage with leading AI experts to develop “empirical, science-based trajectory analysis” for AI systems, with a focus on high-risk environments.

He also announced plans to work closely with labor unions, academic institutions, and private sector stakeholders to explore the use of Gen AI technology in workplaces, ensuring that AI tools can benefit workers while maintaining safety and fairness.

Newsom’s veto and subsequent announcements underscore the state’s complex position as both a leader in AI innovation and a regulator of potentially disruptive technologies. While tech industry leaders, including Microsoft, OpenAI, and Meta, have opposed the bill, others, like Tesla CEO Elon Musk, have supported the bill, emphasizing the need for more stringent AI safeguards. OpenAI’s chief strategy officer Jason Kwon in a letter to Senator Weiner said the bill would “stifle innovation.”