(../../../../fm.cnbc.com/applications/cnbc.com/resources/img/CNBC_LOGO_FAVICON_1C_KO_RGB.ico) California Gov. Newsom issues executive order to rein in AI (california-newsom-executive-order-ai.html) (https://image.cnbcfm.com) (https://static-redesign.cnbcfm.com) (https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2026/09/18/california-newsom-executive-order-ai.html) (https://static-redesign.cnbcfm.com/dist/main-ab47e61485b584136054.js) (https://static-redesign.cnbcfm.com/dist/54711-1b4b7f27485b536e2300.js) (https://static-redesign.cnbcfm.com/dist/73154-f72e1b21698ca1449bb2.js) (https://static-redesign.cnbcfm.com/dist/74430-af231b64f95f9e3d41ae.js) (https://static-redesign.cnbcfm.com/dist/CNBCGlobalNav-1ef3d9f4f23da797ec6f.js) (https://static-redesign.cnbcfm.com/dist/components-PcmModule-Ads-TopBanner-d40bf01647eaf56d45bf.js) (https://static-redesign.cnbcfm.com/dist/components-PcmModule-ArticleHeader-439053a438abbbf01636.js) (https://static-redesign.cnbcfm.com/dist/components-PcmModule-ArticleInlineMedia-ce4dc323bdf07999c782.js) (https://static-redesign.cnbcfm.com/dist/89244-92cd1abce03aaa61c9fd.js) (https://static-redesign.cnbcfm.com/dist/73965-2fd2603b9cb12d085e81.js) (https://static-redesign.cnbcfm.com/dist/components-PcmModule-KeyPoints-c55273c3b6aa04692701.js) (https://static-redesign.cnbcfm.com/dist/71941-18b74b75c24a23391d7b.js) (https://static-redesign.cnbcfm.com/dist/components-PcmModule-ArticleBody-c1ba49429e517765810a.js) (https://static-redesign.cnbcfm.com/dist/components-shared-Article-InlineImage-2f68917e400bcab06cc6.js) (https://static-redesign.cnbcfm.com/dist/components-PcmModule-ArticleRelatedVideo-2fb52a46c0576d7d9cfa.js) (https://static-redesign.cnbcfm.com/dist/components-PcmModule-LiveEventModule-8a58dfc853cfadadf1fe.js) (https://static-redesign.cnbcfm.com/dist/components-PcmModule-WatchLiveRightRail-090a6e7cb78c8cbead15.js) (https://static-redesign.cnbcfm.com/dist/components-PcmModule-Ads-BoxRail-5b6a2c071c5d8bca4ef9.js) (https://static-redesign.cnbcfm.com/dist/components-PcmModule-TransporterSection-c042b86ca9cdbf3fdab7.js) (https://static-redesign.cnbcfm.com/dist/components-Footer-CNBCFooter-b4e61105c5acbfcef431.js) (california-newsom-executive-order-ai.html#MainContent) Skip Navigation (https://www.cnbc.com/) (CNBC) (https://www.cnbc.com/markets/) Markets (https://www.cnbc.com/pre-markets/) Pre-Markets (https://www.cnbc.com/us-markets/) U.S. Markets (https://www.cnbc.com/currencies/) Currencies (https://www.cnbc.com/prediction-markets/) Prediction Markets (https://www.cnbc.com/cryptocurrency/) Cryptocurrency (https://www.cnbc.com/futures-and-commodities/) Futures & Commodities (https://www.cnbc.com/bonds/) Bonds (https://www.cnbc.com/funds-and-etfs/) Funds & ETFs (https://www.cnbc.com/business/) Business (https://www.cnbc.com/economy/) Economy (https://www.cnbc.com/finance/) Finance (https://www.cnbc.com/health-and-science/) Health & Science (https://www.cnbc.com/media/) Media (https://www.cnbc.com/real-estate/) Real Estate (https://www.cnbc.com/energy/) Energy (https://www.cnbc.com/climate/) Climate (https://www.cnbc.com/transportation/) Transportation (https://www.cnbc.com/cnbc-investigations/) Investigations (https://www.cnbc.com/industrials/) Industrials (https://www.cnbc.com/retail/) Retail (https://www.cnbc.com/wealth/) Wealth (https://www.cnbc.com/sports/) Sports (https://www.cnbc.com/life/) Life (https://www.cnbc.com/small-business/) Small Business (https://www.cnbc.com/investing/) Investing (https://www.cnbc.com/personal-finance/) Personal Finance (https://www.cnbc.com/fintech/) Fintech (https://www.cnbc.com/financial-advisors/) Financial Advisors (https://www.cnbc.com/options-action/) Options Action (https://www.cnbc.com/etf-street/) ETF Street (https://buffett.cnbc.com) Buffett Archive (https://www.cnbc.com/earnings/) Earnings (https://www.cnbc.com/trader-talk/) Trader Talk (https://www.cnbc.com/technology/) Tech (https://www.cnbc.com/cybersecurity/) Cybersecurity (https://www.cnbc.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/) AI (https://www.cnbc.com/enterprise/) Enterprise (https://www.cnbc.com/internet/) Internet (https://www.cnbc.com/media/) Media (https://www.cnbc.com/mobile/) Mobile (https://www.cnbc.com/social-media/) Social Media (https://www.cnbc.com/cnbc-disruptors/) CNBC Disruptor 50 (https://www.cnbc.com/tech-guide/) Tech Guide (https://www.cnbc.com/politics/) Politics & Policy (https://www.cnbc.com/white-house/) White House (https://www.cnbc.com/policy/) Policy (https://www.cnbc.com/defense/) Defense (https://www.cnbc.com/congress/) Congress (https://www.cnbc.com/expanding-opportunity/) Expanding Opportunity (https://www.cnbc.com/tv/) Video (https://www.cnbc.com/latest-video/) Latest Video (https://www.cnbc.com/live-tv/full-episodes/) Full Episodes (https://www.cnbc.com/live-tv/) Livestream (https://www.cnbc.com/live-audio/) Live Audio (https://www.cnbc.com/live-tv/schedule/) Live TV Schedule (https://www.cnbc.com/podcast/) CNBC Podcasts (https://www.cnbc.com/video-ceo-interviews/) CEO Interviews (https://www.cnbc.com/documentaries/) CNBC Documentaries (https://www.cnbc.com/digital-original/) Digital Originals (https://www.cnbc.com/watchlist/) Watchlist (https://www.cnbc.com/investingclub/subscribe?__source=investingclub|globalnav|join&tpcc=investingclub|globalnav|join) Investing Club (https://www.cnbc.com/investingclub/charitable-trust/) Trust Portfolio (https://www.cnbc.com/investingclub/analysis/) Analysis (https://www.cnbc.com/investingclub/trade-alerts/) Trade Alerts (https://www.cnbc.com/investingclub/video/) Meeting Videos (https://www.cnbc.com/investingclub/homestretch/) Homestretch (https://www.cnbc.com/investingclub/jim-cramer-columns/) Jim's Columns (https://www.cnbc.com/investingclub/education/) Education (https://www.cnbc.com/investingclub/subscribe?__source=investingclub|dropdownnav&tpcc=investingclub|dropdownnav) Subscribe (Join IC) (https://www.cnbc.com/application/pro?__source=pro|globalnav|join&tpcc=pro|globalnav|join) PRO (https://www.cnbc.com/pro/news/) Pro News (https://www.cnbc.com/josh-brown/) Josh Brown (https://www.cnbc.com/mike-santoli-insight/) Mike Santoli (https://www.cnbc.com/analyst-calls-of-the-day/) Calls of the Day (https://www.cnbc.com/my-portfolio/) My Portfolio (https://www.cnbc.com/live-tv/) Livestream (https://www.cnbc.com/live-tv/full-episodes/) Full Episodes (https://www.cnbc.com/pro-stock-screener/) Stock Screener (https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/11/market-strategist-survey-forecast.html) Market Forecast (https://www.cnbc.com/pro/options-investing/) Options Investing (https://www.cnbc.com/cnbc-pro-chart-investing/) Chart Investing (https://www.cnbc.com/application/pro/?__source=pro|dropdownnav&tpcc=pro|dropdownnav) Subscribe (Join Pro) (https://www.cnbc.com/live-tv/) Livestream Menu (https://www.cnbc.com/make-it/) (makeit) Make It select (https://www.cnbc.com/?region=usa) USA (https://www.cnbc.com/world/) INTL (https://www.cnbc.com/live-tv/) Livestream Search quotes, news & videos (https://www.cnbc.com/live-tv/) Livestream (https://www.cnbc.com/watchlist/) Watchlist (Show Notifications) (california-newsom-executive-order-ai.html#) SIGN IN (california-newsom-executive-order-ai.html#) Create free account (https://www.cnbc.com/markets/) Markets (https://www.cnbc.com/business/) Business (https://www.cnbc.com/investing/) Investing (https://www.cnbc.com/technology/) Tech (https://www.cnbc.com/politics/) Politics & Policy (https://www.cnbc.com/tv/) Video (https://www.cnbc.com/watchlist/) Watchlist (https://www.cnbc.com/investingclub/subscribe?__source=investingclub|globalnav|join&tpcc=investingclub|globalnav|join) Investing Club (Join IC) (https://www.cnbc.com/application/pro?__source=pro|globalnav|join&tpcc=pro|globalnav|join) PRO (Join Pro) (https://www.cnbc.com/live-tv/) Livestream Menu (https://www.cnbc.com/politics/) Politics & Policy California Gov. Newsom issues executive order to rein in AI 'before it's too late' Published Fri, Sep 18 2026 11:02 AM EDT (thumbnail) (https://www.cnbc.com/justin-papp/) Justin Papp (https://linkedin.com/in/justin-papp) @in/justin-papp (https://twitter.com/@justinjpapp1) @justinjpapp1 (https://www.cnbc.com/live-tv/) WATCH LIVE Key Points California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order on Friday that he said is aimed at addressing potential risks of artificial intelligence. The order would call for a team of experts to create recommendations for the state to enhance its AI safety laws, and comes as AI fears are on the rise in Washington and nationwide. Newsom said Washington was abdicating "its responsibility to protect Americans," by failing to take regulatory action on the rapidly advancing technology. Governor Gavin Newsom attends the 94th Annual Meeting of the United States Conference of Mayors in Long Beach, California, June 4, 2026. Myraneli Fabian | Anadolu | Getty Images California Gov. (https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/26/gavin-newsom-national-billionaires-tax-california.html) Gavin Newsom on Friday issued an executive order aimed at addressing the potential dangers related to (https://www.cnbc.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/) artificial intelligence . Newsom is part of a group of 2028 (https://www.cnbc.com/democrats/) Democratic presidential hopefuls who have urged a more aggressive regulatory approach to the rapidly evolving technology, after a researcher at (https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/19/anthropic-cnbc-disruptor-50-ranking.html) Anthropic resigned and warned of AI's potentially humanity-ending capabilities in a (https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/09/anthropic-researcher-quits-ai-safety.html) social media post earlier this month. The post set off a frenzy in Washington, D.C., as lawmakers grapple with how to establish guardrails for AI. But (https://www.cnbc.com/congress/) Congress appears unlikely to take any meaningful legislative action on AI fears before the 2026 midterm (https://www.cnbc.com/elections/) elections , and President (https://www.cnbc.com/donald-trump/) Donald Trump has so far (https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/15/trump-opposition-to-ai-rules-undercuts-industrys-calls-for-a-slowdown.html) resisted calls for regulation . “The federal government’s abject failure to create any form of meaningful AI oversight or accountability should alarm every American, especially when AI CEOs themselves are begging for regulation," Newsom said in a statement on Friday. “We're not waiting to act – we’re going to speed up our work on substantial and responsible AI oversight before it's too late. We’re going to do this thoughtfully but with urgent velocity; the stakes are too high to wait or delay action," Newsom continued. Read more CNBC politics and policy coverage (https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/18/trump-saudi-arabia-f-35-houthis-iran-war.html) Trump administration advances $24.3 billion F-35 deal to Saudi Arabia (https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/17/ai-data-center-utility-cost-senate.html) Bill to curb AI data center utility costs hits snag in Senate (https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/17/ai-crisis-congress-regulation.html) House heads home to campaign amid calls for urgent AI action The order calls on a group of experts to meet and create, within two months, a guide for the state to strengthen its AI safety and security laws. Those enhanced laws may include a requirement for independent third parties to write safety plans for frontier AI companies, or mandating that companies develop a "kill switch" to shut down their models in case of emergency, according to an announcement from Newsom's office. While Trump has called fears of AI safety a "(https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/15/5-things-to-know-before-the-stock-market-opens.html) hoax ," Democrats have largely rallied around calls for stricter regulations. And those with presidential ambitions have been among the loudest voices in recent weeks. Pennsylvania Gov. (https://www.cnbc.com/2024/08/22/trump-shapiro-jewish-governor-antisemitism.html) Josh Shapiro has similarly called for "third-party" oversight of frontier models and stricter guardrails. Sen. (https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/06/arizona-senate-election-results.html) Mark Kelly , D-Ariz., told Politico he's introducing legislation to crate a fund paid for by AI companies that would support workers displaced by the technology. And Sen. (https://www.cnbc.com/cory-booker/) Cory Booker , D-N.J., urged Trump to (https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-calls-on-trump-to-convene-congress-for-special-session-on-ai) convene a special session of Congress to address AI risks. Newsom, whose term as California governor ends on Jan. 4, has not announced a presidential campaign, though he has said he is (https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/newsom-cnn-interview-on-possible-presidential-run/) mulling the possibility . In his announcement of the executive order, Newsom touted laws already in effect in the state, including one he (https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/09/09/governor-newsom-signs-first-in-the-nation-ai-safeguards-to-protect-californians-calls-on-the-federal-government-to-do-its-part/) signed earlier this month that creates a framework for third-party AI auditors. "While Washington abdicates its responsibility to protect Americans, California is building on the strongest AI regulatory framework in the nation," Newsom said. "California has already built a national model, and our policy should be the national baseline." (https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=https://www.cnbc.com/) Choose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news. (https://www.cnbc.com/) (CNBC logo) (https://www.facebook.com/cnbc/) (https://www.twitter.com/cnbc/) (https://www.linkedin.com/company/cnbc/) (https://www.instagram.com/cnbc/) (https://www.youtube.com/user/cnbc/) (https://apple.news/T3OtoXcxtRkuHRkM7SpFP_Q) (https://www.cnbc.com/rss-feeds/) (https://www.cnbc.com/application/pro/?__source=pro|globalfooter) Subscribe to CNBC PRO (https://www.cnbc.com/investingclub/subscribe?__source=investingclub|globalfooter) Subscribe to Investing Club (https://www.cnbc.com/cnbc-reprints/) Licensing & Reprints (https://www.cnbccouncils.com/) CNBC Councils (https://www.cnbc.com/select/) Select Personal Finance (https://cnbcrsh.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dgRx5X1nYC0YjNI?Origin=cnbc) Join the CNBC Panel (https://www.cnbc.com/closed-captioning/) Closed Captioning (https://www.cnbc.com/subscribe/all-access/) Digital Products (https://www.cnbc.com/cnbc-news-releases/) News Releases (https://www.cnbc.com/cnbc-internship-program/) Internships (https://www.cnbc.com/corrections/) Corrections (https://www.cnbc.com/about/) About CNBC (https://www.cnbc.com/site-map/) Site Map (https://www.cnbc.com/podcast/) Podcasts (https://www.cnbc.com/cnbc-careers-and-employment/) Careers (https://help.cnbc.com/) Help (https://help.cnbc.com/contact/) Contact News Tips Got a confidential news tip? We want to hear from you. (https://www.cnbc.com/news-tips/) Get In Touch CNBC Newsletters Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox (https://www.cnbc.com/sign-up-for-cnbc-newsletters/) Sign Up Now Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services. Advertise With Us (https://together.nbcuni.com/advertise/?utm_source=cnbc&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=property_ad_pages) Please Contact Us (https://www.versantprivacy.com/privacy/cookies#accordionheader3) Ad Choices (https://www.versantprivacy.com/privacy) Privacy Policy (California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) Opt-Out Icon) Your Privacy Choices (http://www.versantprivacy.com/privacy/california-consumer-privacy-act) CA Notice (https://www.cnbc.com/terms/) Terms of Service © 2026Versant Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. A Versant Media Company. Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis. (https://www.cnbc.com/market-data-terms-of-service/) Market Data Terms of Use and Disclaimers Data also provided by(https://www.cnbc.com/market-data-terms-of-service/) (Reuters logo) (../../../../zephr-templates.cnbc.com/integration.css)