AI bosses say they can self-regulate and House passes Russia sanctions bill: Morning Rundown
Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order on September 18, 2026, to accelerate independent oversight of AI companies and advance the creation of an AI kill switch following recent incidents. This move comes as AI executives remain divided; some argue for self-regulation while others continue to raise alarms about existential threats. While some political leaders like Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro call federal reliance on tech companies "flat-out wrong," overall AI policy in the United States has largely stalled despite warnings of a tech arms race.
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- ✓ Governor Newsom issued an executive order on September 18, 2026, to advance an AI kill switch and independent oversight of AI companies.
- ✓ AI industry leaders are divided on how to handle threats from advanced technology.
What changed
Governor Newsom issued an executive order to create an AI kill switch and accelerate independent oversight.
Live updates
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California Orders AI Kill Switch as Industry Splits on Regulation
Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order on September 18, 2026, to accelerate independent oversight of AI companies and advance the creation of an AI kill switch following recent incidents. This move comes as AI executives remain divided; some argue for self-regulation while others continue to raise alarms about existential threats. While some political leaders like Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro call federal reliance on tech companies "flat-out wrong," overall AI policy in the United States has largely stalled despite warnings of a tech arms race.
Why it matters
The debate centers on whether the rapid development of advanced AI poses existential risks that require government intervention. California is attempting to implement first-in-the-nation safety checks and oversight. This friction exists alongside a broader legislative environment where Congress uses AI for daily tasks while struggling to regulate it.
What is confirmed
- Governor Newsom issued an executive order on September 18, 2026, to advance an AI kill switch and independent oversight of AI companies.
- AI industry leaders are divided on how to handle threats from advanced technology.
Still unconfirmed
- Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro believes relying on tech companies for AI rules is flat-out wrong.
What to watch next
- Implementation details of California's independent AI oversight law
- Federal legislative action on AI guardrails in Congress
confidence 90%Sources used for this update (13)
- Politico — What AI urgency? Industry and leaders split on how to handle advanced tech’s threats
- WSJ — The ‘Optimistic Side’ of the AI Safety Debate
- The Verge — A brief history of AI executives calling for regulation
- NBC News — AI bosses say they can self-regulate and House passes Russia sanctions bill: Morning Rundown
- ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos — Video Tech CEOs still raising alarms on AI
- 5calls.org — Demand Federal Regulation of AI
- Bloomberg.com — How Existential Fears Are Shaping the Debate Over AI
- The Economist — Can the AI arms race be stopped?
- NBC News — What’s behind AI leaders’ calls for a slowdown?
- www.gov.ca.gov — Governor Newsom issues executive order to accelerate independent oversight and advance the creation of an AI kill switch
- www.nbcnews.com — From drafting bills to writing birthday songs: How Congress is using AI
- www.nbcnews.com — Josh Shapiro urges swift AI rules, says relying on tech companies is ‘flat-out wrong’
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