Source: The Guardian

The Guardian reports on the intense backlash from California Governor Gavin Newsom regarding President Trump's executive order to block state AI regulations. Newsom characterized the order as advancing "grift and corruption" rather than innovation, arguing it protects the interests of the President's associates over public safety. The Governor defended California's recent legislative efforts, such as the Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act, which mandates safety testing and reporting for powerful AI models. State officials view the federal order as a direct assault on California's sovereignty and its role as a global technology leader.

The article highlights that California Attorney General Rob Bonta is preparing to challenge the legality of the executive order, setting the stage for a constitutional showdown. Opposition to the order extends beyond politicians to include child safety organizations and labor unions, who fear that removing state safeguards will expose vulnerable populations to harms from unregulated AI chatbots and algorithmic bias. Critics argue that the Trump administration has failed to provide a comprehensive federal framework to replace the state laws it seeks to dismantle, effectively leaving the industry without meaningful oversight.