2028 Democrats like Newsom and Pritzker lean in on AI safety as Washington stalls
Democratic 2028 contenders are seizing on AI alarm.
TL;DR
- California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order on AI safety, addressing independent auditors and kill switches.
- Newsom's action is seen as a move to lead on AI regulation while Congress and the Trump administration are perceived as inactive.
- States are increasingly filling the void in AI regulation, with over 600 bills proposed across 47 states.
- California, Illinois, and Massachusetts are leading the charge in AI regulation, with Democratic governors at the forefront.
- Newsom's executive order aligns with two recent California bills endorsed by OpenAI and Anthropic.
- Other potential 2028 presidential contenders, like Kamala Harris and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, are also highlighting AI safety concerns.
- Pritzker has criticized Donald Trump's stance on AI and promoted Illinois's AI safety bill, which requires companies to establish their own safety frameworks.
- Massachusetts is considering a Senate bill that mandates independent evaluations of AI models every four months, with differing levels of support from AI companies.