Gavin Newsom signs laws to protect California workers from AI threat

California's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, signed a series of laws on Wednesday aimed at safeguarding workers from potential threats posed by artificial intelligence. The new measures address concerns over job displacement, workplace surveillance, and the use of AI in decision-making processes. Newsom criticized then-President Donald Trump for failing to enact comprehensive federal AI regulations, despite warnings from industry leaders about the technology's risks.

The governor also issued an executive order mandating state agencies to continue using the term "artificial intelligence" instead of "super intelligence," as Trump had recently ordered US diplomats to do. Newsom emphasized that AI should expand opportunities rather than come at the expense of workers and families. He previously signed legislation requiring AI chatbot operators to conduct risk assessments before deployment and called for special legislative sessions to further regulate the industry, given the lack of federal leadership.