SAN FRANCISCO — Gov. Gavin Newsom warned on Wednesday against stifling the burgeoning artificial intelligence sector, sending a signal to Democratic lawmakers who are advancing dozens of AI bills in the state Legislature.
The Democratic governor of California and former San Francisco mayor has long been solicitous of its homegrown technology industry, calling it a critical source of tax revenue and a key to the state’s competitive edge. The position has put him at odds with legislative Democrats and union allies who have increasingly sought to rein in major tech players
But he is likely to play a critical gatekeeping role as bills move closer to his desk ahead of a September 30 deadline. He said he was weighing innovation against warnings about the negative fallout from out-of-control AI. Industry luminaries like OpenAI founder Sam Altman and leading academics like Stuart Russell have pushed for a cautious approach.
Newsom also suggested he’s open to laws curbing deceptive campaign videos and images, relaying a conversation with someone concerned that AI would undermine open elections.