🔗 Share this article California Governor Gavin Newsom Responds on Trump's Artificial Intelligence Decree Aimed at Preempting Local Regulations. The signature was still fresh on Donald Trump's artificial intelligence executive order when the California governor came out swinging. Just hours after the order went public on Thursday evening, the governor released comments arguing that the presidential dictum, which seeks to prevent states from crafting their own AI rules, promotes “grift and corruption” rather than true technological progress. “President Trump and David Sacks aren’t making policy – they are executing a scheme,” the governor stated, referencing the President's technology czar. “Every day, they test boundaries to see how far they can take it.” A Major Victory for Silicon Valley Sets Up a Legal Showdown The presidential directive is viewed as a decisive win for technology companies that have lobbied vigorously to remove regulatory hurdles to creating and launching their artificial intelligence systems. Furthermore, it sets up a potential conflict between state governments and the White House over the future of AI regulation. Swift criticism from groups including child safety advocates, unions, and state officials has highlighted the deeply contentious nature of the order. Several officials and organizations have already questioned the constitutionality of the executive order, stating that Trump lacks the power to undermine state legislation on AI and labeling the order as the product of powerful corporate influence. The state of California, the base for many prominent AI companies and one of the most prolific legislators on AI policy, has emerged as a primary hub for pushback against the order. “This directive is deeply misguided, wildly corrupt, and will actually hinder innovation and erode confidence in the long run,” said California Democratic representative, Sara Jacobs. “We will explore every option – from the courts to Congress – to overturn this policy.” A Policy Standoff and Potential Legal Duel In September, Newsom signed a pioneering artificial intelligence act that would require developers of large, powerful AI models to provide transparency reports and immediately notify authorities of critical failures or face fines up to $1 million. Newsom touted this Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence act as a model for regulating AI companies across the country. “California's position as a worldwide innovator in technology provides a unique opportunity to establish a framework for well-balanced AI policies beyond our borders,” the governor said in an speech. “This is particularly vital given the lack of a comprehensive federal AI policy.” The recent state law and additional pending regulations could now be in Trump’s crosshairs. Thursday’s executive order establishes an AI litigation taskforce that would scrutinize local regulations deemed not to “bolster the United States’ competitive edge” and then initiate lawsuits or threaten to cut federal broadband funding. Opponents contend that the administration has failed to deliver any comprehensive federal framework to supersede the state laws it seeks to preempt. “This unconstitutional directive is simply a brazen effort to upend AI safety and give tech billionaires absolute authority over employment, rights and freedoms,” said a major labor leader, one critic. Nationwide Backlash Erupts Across the Spectrum Within hours the order was signed, criticism grew among elected officials, labor leaders, child welfare organizations and rights groups that decried the policy. Other California Democratic leaders argued the executive order was an attack against local autonomy. “No state understands the potential of AI better than California,” noted Alex Padilla. “But with today’s executive order, the White House is attacking local initiative and fundamental protections in a single stroke.” In a similar vein, another senator stressed: “Trump is attempting to override state laws that are establishing meaningful safeguards around AI and substituting them with … a void.” Officials from multiple states also took issue with the order. One congressmember labeled it a “terrible idea” that would “create a unregulated landscape for AI companies”. A New York assemblymember described the directive a “massive windfall” for AI firms, stating that “a few powerful executives influenced Donald Trump into compromising America’s future”. Even a former Trump adviser criticized the policy, reportedly stating that the AI czar had “given poor counsel to the President on this issue”. A philanthropic tech investor echoed that “the answer does not lie in preempting state and local laws”. Child Safety Concerns Become a Focal Point Blowback against the order has extended to groups focused on kids' safety that have repeatedly warned over the impacts of AI on minors. This discussion has intensified this year following multiple lawsuits against AI companies concerning harm to children. “The AI industry’s relentless race for user attention already has a body count, and, in enacting this policy, the White House has made clear it is willing to allow it to continue,” said James Steyer. “The public deserves more than corporate favors at the cost of their safety.” A coalition of bereaved parents and child advocacy organizations have also spoken out the order. They have been advocating for new laws to better protect children from risky online platforms and AI chatbots and issued a national public service announcement opposing the federal override. “Families will not roll over and allow our kids to remain lab rats in big tech’s deadly AI experiment that prioritizes revenue over the wellbeing of children,” said one coalition CEO. “We need robust safeguards at the federal and state level, not amnesty for big tech billionaires.”
The signature was still fresh on Donald Trump's artificial intelligence executive order when the California governor came out swinging. Just hours after the order went public on Thursday evening, the governor released comments arguing that the presidential dictum, which seeks to prevent states from crafting their own AI rules, promotes “grift and corruption” rather than true technological progress. “President Trump and David Sacks aren’t making policy – they are executing a scheme,” the governor stated, referencing the President's technology czar. “Every day, they test boundaries to see how far they can take it.” A Major Victory for Silicon Valley Sets Up a Legal Showdown The presidential directive is viewed as a decisive win for technology companies that have lobbied vigorously to remove regulatory hurdles to creating and launching their artificial intelligence systems. Furthermore, it sets up a potential conflict between state governments and the White House over the future of AI regulation. Swift criticism from groups including child safety advocates, unions, and state officials has highlighted the deeply contentious nature of the order. Several officials and organizations have already questioned the constitutionality of the executive order, stating that Trump lacks the power to undermine state legislation on AI and labeling the order as the product of powerful corporate influence. The state of California, the base for many prominent AI companies and one of the most prolific legislators on AI policy, has emerged as a primary hub for pushback against the order. “This directive is deeply misguided, wildly corrupt, and will actually hinder innovation and erode confidence in the long run,” said California Democratic representative, Sara Jacobs. “We will explore every option – from the courts to Congress – to overturn this policy.” A Policy Standoff and Potential Legal Duel In September, Newsom signed a pioneering artificial intelligence act that would require developers of large, powerful AI models to provide transparency reports and immediately notify authorities of critical failures or face fines up to $1 million. Newsom touted this Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence act as a model for regulating AI companies across the country. “California's position as a worldwide innovator in technology provides a unique opportunity to establish a framework for well-balanced AI policies beyond our borders,” the governor said in an speech. “This is particularly vital given the lack of a comprehensive federal AI policy.” The recent state law and additional pending regulations could now be in Trump’s crosshairs. Thursday’s executive order establishes an AI litigation taskforce that would scrutinize local regulations deemed not to “bolster the United States’ competitive edge” and then initiate lawsuits or threaten to cut federal broadband funding. Opponents contend that the administration has failed to deliver any comprehensive federal framework to supersede the state laws it seeks to preempt. “This unconstitutional directive is simply a brazen effort to upend AI safety and give tech billionaires absolute authority over employment, rights and freedoms,” said a major labor leader, one critic. Nationwide Backlash Erupts Across the Spectrum Within hours the order was signed, criticism grew among elected officials, labor leaders, child welfare organizations and rights groups that decried the policy. Other California Democratic leaders argued the executive order was an attack against local autonomy. “No state understands the potential of AI better than California,” noted Alex Padilla. “But with today’s executive order, the White House is attacking local initiative and fundamental protections in a single stroke.” In a similar vein, another senator stressed: “Trump is attempting to override state laws that are establishing meaningful safeguards around AI and substituting them with … a void.” Officials from multiple states also took issue with the order. One congressmember labeled it a “terrible idea” that would “create a unregulated landscape for AI companies”. A New York assemblymember described the directive a “massive windfall” for AI firms, stating that “a few powerful executives influenced Donald Trump into compromising America’s future”. Even a former Trump adviser criticized the policy, reportedly stating that the AI czar had “given poor counsel to the President on this issue”. A philanthropic tech investor echoed that “the answer does not lie in preempting state and local laws”. Child Safety Concerns Become a Focal Point Blowback against the order has extended to groups focused on kids' safety that have repeatedly warned over the impacts of AI on minors. This discussion has intensified this year following multiple lawsuits against AI companies concerning harm to children. “The AI industry’s relentless race for user attention already has a body count, and, in enacting this policy, the White House has made clear it is willing to allow it to continue,” said James Steyer. “The public deserves more than corporate favors at the cost of their safety.” A coalition of bereaved parents and child advocacy organizations have also spoken out the order. They have been advocating for new laws to better protect children from risky online platforms and AI chatbots and issued a national public service announcement opposing the federal override. “Families will not roll over and allow our kids to remain lab rats in big tech’s deadly AI experiment that prioritizes revenue over the wellbeing of children,” said one coalition CEO. “We need robust safeguards at the federal and state level, not amnesty for big tech billionaires.”