California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order demanding AI companies embed independent auditors and implement kill switches for their models. The order follows recent incidents, including the Hugging Face attack, and aims to strengthen oversight of AI development.
The executive order requires an expert panel to deliver recommendations within two months, including a mandate for AI companies to embed independent auditors directly inside their labs. This proposal was already suggested by AI labs themselves as part of broader calls to slow research and development.
Newsom criticized his rival Donald Trump, who accused AI labs of fearmongering. He pointed out that no federal law currently requires AI companies to report dangerous incidents, highlighting the need for a national baseline of safety regulations.
"No federal law requires AI companies to report dangerous incidents," said Newsom. He called on Congress to adopt California's framework as a national standard, citing existing state laws on AI safety, child protection, deepfakes, data privacy, and cybersecurity.
The order also reflects concerns raised by a group of 42 mathematicians about the risks of advanced AI systems evolving rapidly in the near future. These experts warn of potential dangers that current oversight mechanisms may not fully address.
Newsom did not specify how the kill switch would function, and the order leaves open questions about implementation and enforcement. The expert panel is expected to provide further details on the proposed measures in the coming months.
Source: thedecoder
