Newsom unveils AI order aimed at protecting workers from job disruption

The order positions California at the forefront of the national debate over AI regulation and workforce protections, as the technology rapidly reshapes industries ranging from media to customer service. Newsom framed the initiative as part of a broader effort to prepare the state for what he described as a fundamental transformation of work and government.

“California has never sat back and watched as the future happened to us — and we won’t start now,” Newsom said. “We have taken the lead on advancing innovation, safety, and transparency. But we must think bigger. This moment demands that we reimagine the entire system — how we work, how we govern, how we prepare people for the future.”

California has become the center of the global AI industry, with 33 of the world’s top 50 private AI companies based in the state. State officials said the executive order is designed to balance continued innovation