Newsom order forms California AI panel to study kill switch creation, new safety regulations, tell me about this news in (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/newsom-order-forms-california-ai-panel-to-study-kill-switch-creation-new-safety-regulations/ar-AA2cvOYR?ocid=BingNewsVerp)

California Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-9-26, directing state agencies and an expert advisory panel to evaluate strict new artificial intelligence safety rules, most notably exploring the feasibility of an emergency “kill switch” for advanced frontier AI models.

Key Details of the Executive Order

• The “Kill Switch” Mechanism: The order examines whether developers of the most powerful, cutting-edge AI systems should be legally required to build an emergency shutdown mechanism. The efficacy and readiness of this kill switch would be routinely and independently verified.

• Tight Deadline for Recommendations: The order directs the California Government Operations Agency, working alongside the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and leading national AI experts, to deliver concrete legislative and regulatory recommendations by November 16, 2026.

• On-Site Independent Oversight: State officials are evaluating proposals that would require major frontier AI labs to embed independent third-party evaluators directly within their organizations to audit safety protocols, evaluate risks, and verify compliance reports.

• Mandatory Incident Reporting: The panel is tasked with expanding mandatory incident reporting rules to cover “loss-of-control” events, unauthorized systems breaches, and severe cybersecurity compromises involving AI agents.

• Accelerating Recent State Legislation: The order fast-tracks the implementation of two recently signed California laws:

  • SB 813: Establishes certification standards for independent organizations assessing AI models for safety and risk.

  • AB 1405: Creates a state registry and ethical standards for independent AI auditors.

Background and Context

The initiative revives elements of an idea originally proposed in Senate Bill 1047, a comprehensive AI safety measure Newsom vetoed in 2024. While Newsom had previously argued that earlier legislation was too broad and could stifle tech innovation, the new order focuses specifically on independent oversight, verified safety thresholds, and catastrophic risk prevention. Newsom also indicated that California intends for these measures to serve as a blueprint for national AI regulation in the absence of comprehensive federal mandates.