California orders study of AI ‘kill switch’

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed an executive order urging state agencies to investigate the possibility of implementing a mandatory "kill switch" for advanced AI models. The directive aims to explore whether such a feature is feasible, as the federal government has failed to establish any meaningful oversight or accountability for AI development.

Newsom, who is seen as a potential Democratic presidential candidate in 2028, pointed out that the US has not taken action on AI concerns while the technology's leaders are urging for regulation. The order follows warnings from AI insiders about the potential risks of the technology, with experts expressing fears that AI systems could pose a threat to humanity by the end of the decade.

While the executive order does not impose a kill switch, it calls for state agencies to report by November 16 on the feasibility of such a feature, as well as considering independent auditors in labs and requiring companies to report loss-of-control incidents. California's move comes as other US states increasingly take action on AI regulation independently of the federal government, including Virginia's Governor Abigail Spanberger who signed an executive order to oversee data center accountability due to growing opposition to AI's computing demands.