Newsom pushes California toward an AI ‘kill switch’

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has directed state officials to develop stronger guardrails for artificial intelligence, including a possible requirement that companies be able to shut down systems that pose serious risks. The idea is less a literal off button than a safety backstop: developers of powerful AI could need a reliable way to suspend or disable a system if it behaves dangerously or escapes intended controls. The executive order does not itself impose that requirement, but it puts California—home to much of the AI industry—back at the center of the argument over whether safety rules should be built in before the technology becomes harder to contain.