🔗 Share this article Gavin Newsom Fires Back on Trump's AI Executive Order Aimed at Overriding Local Regulations. The ink was barely dry on Donald Trump's artificial intelligence executive order when Gavin Newsom came out swinging. Shortly following the decree was released on Thursday night, Newsom released comments stating that the presidential dictum, which seeks to block local governments from crafting their own AI rules, advances “grift and corruption” instead of true technological progress. “The administration and its adviser are not crafting legislation – they are executing a scheme,” Newsom stated, mentioning the President's technology czar. “Day after day, they test boundaries to see what they can get away with.” A Major Victory for Silicon Valley Creates a Legal Showdown The presidential directive is seen as a major victory for technology companies that have actively campaigned against legislative barriers to developing and deploying their artificial intelligence systems. Furthermore, it establishes a potential conflict between local authorities and the White House over the direction of artificial intelligence governance. The immediate backlash from organizations such as child safety advocates, unions, and elected leaders has highlighted the deeply contentious nature of the order. A number of leaders and organizations have raised doubts about the legality of the executive order, stating that the President lacks the power to override local laws on AI and labeling the order as the result of intense tech industry lobbying. California, the base for many leading tech firms and one of the most active states on AI policy, has emerged as a primary hub for pushback against the order. “This directive is profoundly flawed, grossly unethical, and will actually hinder progress and weaken public trust in the long run,” remarked California Democratic representative, Sara Jacobs. “We will explore all avenues – from the courts to Congress – to reverse this decision.” Legislative Loggerheads and Potential Legal Duel Earlier this year, Governor Newsom enacted a pioneering artificial intelligence act that would compel developers of large, powerful AI models to provide transparency reports and immediately notify authorities of safety incidents or face fines exceeding $1 million. The governor championed this Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence act as a model for governing the tech sector nationwide. “Our state’s status as a worldwide innovator in technology provides a unique opportunity to establish a framework for well-balanced AI policies for the entire nation,” Newsom said in an address. “This is particularly vital given the lack of a comprehensive federal AI policy.” The recent state law and additional pending regulations could now be targeted by the administration. Thursday’s executive order establishes an legal review panel that would review local regulations deemed not to “bolster the United States’ global AI dominance” and then pursue legal action or threaten to cut federal broadband funding. Opponents contend that the White House has never provided any comprehensive federal framework to supersede the state laws it seeks to preempt. “This unconstitutional directive is simply a blatant attempt to upend AI safety and give tech billionaires absolute authority over employment, freedoms and freedoms,” said a major labor leader, Liz Shuler. Broad Opposition Erupts From Multiple Quarters Shortly after the order was signed, criticism grew among elected officials, labor leaders, children’s advocacy groups and rights groups that decried the move. Other California Democratic leaders said the executive order was an assault on state rights. “No place in America knows the promise of AI better than California,” said a U.S. Senator. “But with today’s executive order, the White House is undermining local initiative and basic safeguards in a single stroke.” In a similar vein, another senator stressed: “The President is attempting to override local regulations that are establishing meaningful safeguards around AI and replace them with … a void.” Officials from multiple states also took issue with the order. One congressmember called it a “disastrous policy” that would “foster a lawless Wild West environment for AI companies”. A New York assemblymember called the order a “huge giveaway” for AI firms, adding that “a few powerful executives influenced the President into compromising America’s future”. Remarkably, even a former Trump adviser found fault with the policy, saying in a message that the President's adviser had “completely misled the President on this issue”. The head of an investment firm similarly said that “the solution is not preempting state and local laws”. Child Safety Concerns Take Center Stage Resistance against the order has extended to child protection organizations that have repeatedly warned over the effects of AI on children. This discussion has intensified this year following multiple lawsuits against AI companies concerning harm to children. “The tech sector's unchecked pursuit for engagement has already led to loss of life, and, in enacting this policy, the White House has made clear it is willing to allow it to continue,” said the head of a child advocacy group. “The public deserves more than corporate favors at the cost of their wellbeing.” A coalition of bereaved parents and safety groups have also spoken out the order. They have been working to pass legislation to better protect children from risky online platforms and AI chatbots and issued a national public service announcement opposing the AI preemption policy. “Parents will not roll over and allow our kids to remain test subjects in dangerous corporate trials that puts profits over the wellbeing of children,” declared one coalition CEO. “It is essential to have strong protections at the federal and state level, not immunity for wealthy executives.”
The ink was barely dry on Donald Trump's artificial intelligence executive order when Gavin Newsom came out swinging. Shortly following the decree was released on Thursday night, Newsom released comments stating that the presidential dictum, which seeks to block local governments from crafting their own AI rules, advances “grift and corruption” instead of true technological progress. “The administration and its adviser are not crafting legislation – they are executing a scheme,” Newsom stated, mentioning the President's technology czar. “Day after day, they test boundaries to see what they can get away with.” A Major Victory for Silicon Valley Creates a Legal Showdown The presidential directive is seen as a major victory for technology companies that have actively campaigned against legislative barriers to developing and deploying their artificial intelligence systems. Furthermore, it establishes a potential conflict between local authorities and the White House over the direction of artificial intelligence governance. The immediate backlash from organizations such as child safety advocates, unions, and elected leaders has highlighted the deeply contentious nature of the order. A number of leaders and organizations have raised doubts about the legality of the executive order, stating that the President lacks the power to override local laws on AI and labeling the order as the result of intense tech industry lobbying. California, the base for many leading tech firms and one of the most active states on AI policy, has emerged as a primary hub for pushback against the order. “This directive is profoundly flawed, grossly unethical, and will actually hinder progress and weaken public trust in the long run,” remarked California Democratic representative, Sara Jacobs. “We will explore all avenues – from the courts to Congress – to reverse this decision.” Legislative Loggerheads and Potential Legal Duel Earlier this year, Governor Newsom enacted a pioneering artificial intelligence act that would compel developers of large, powerful AI models to provide transparency reports and immediately notify authorities of safety incidents or face fines exceeding $1 million. The governor championed this Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence act as a model for governing the tech sector nationwide. “Our state’s status as a worldwide innovator in technology provides a unique opportunity to establish a framework for well-balanced AI policies for the entire nation,” Newsom said in an address. “This is particularly vital given the lack of a comprehensive federal AI policy.” The recent state law and additional pending regulations could now be targeted by the administration. Thursday’s executive order establishes an legal review panel that would review local regulations deemed not to “bolster the United States’ global AI dominance” and then pursue legal action or threaten to cut federal broadband funding. Opponents contend that the White House has never provided any comprehensive federal framework to supersede the state laws it seeks to preempt. “This unconstitutional directive is simply a blatant attempt to upend AI safety and give tech billionaires absolute authority over employment, freedoms and freedoms,” said a major labor leader, Liz Shuler. Broad Opposition Erupts From Multiple Quarters Shortly after the order was signed, criticism grew among elected officials, labor leaders, children’s advocacy groups and rights groups that decried the move. Other California Democratic leaders said the executive order was an assault on state rights. “No place in America knows the promise of AI better than California,” said a U.S. Senator. “But with today’s executive order, the White House is undermining local initiative and basic safeguards in a single stroke.” In a similar vein, another senator stressed: “The President is attempting to override local regulations that are establishing meaningful safeguards around AI and replace them with … a void.” Officials from multiple states also took issue with the order. One congressmember called it a “disastrous policy” that would “foster a lawless Wild West environment for AI companies”. A New York assemblymember called the order a “huge giveaway” for AI firms, adding that “a few powerful executives influenced the President into compromising America’s future”. Remarkably, even a former Trump adviser found fault with the policy, saying in a message that the President's adviser had “completely misled the President on this issue”. The head of an investment firm similarly said that “the solution is not preempting state and local laws”. Child Safety Concerns Take Center Stage Resistance against the order has extended to child protection organizations that have repeatedly warned over the effects of AI on children. This discussion has intensified this year following multiple lawsuits against AI companies concerning harm to children. “The tech sector's unchecked pursuit for engagement has already led to loss of life, and, in enacting this policy, the White House has made clear it is willing to allow it to continue,” said the head of a child advocacy group. “The public deserves more than corporate favors at the cost of their wellbeing.” A coalition of bereaved parents and safety groups have also spoken out the order. They have been working to pass legislation to better protect children from risky online platforms and AI chatbots and issued a national public service announcement opposing the AI preemption policy. “Parents will not roll over and allow our kids to remain test subjects in dangerous corporate trials that puts profits over the wellbeing of children,” declared one coalition CEO. “It is essential to have strong protections at the federal and state level, not immunity for wealthy executives.”