# Newsom's AI 'Kill Switch' Order: Bold Safety Move or Empty Gesture?

- URL: https://twotakes.us/stories/newsoms-ai-kill-switch-order-bold-safety-move-or-empty-gesture
- Published: 2026-09-19T07:11:56.804336+00:00
- Topics: artificial-intelligence, california, gavin-newsom, regulation, 2028-election

## What the left says
- The order responds to what is described as a dangerous vacuum in federal oversight, with Newsom framing state action as necessary because Washington has failed to act despite AI CEOs themselves requesting regulation.
- Convening independent experts to study safeguards like a kill switch and mandatory third-party safety audits reflects a precautionary approach to a technology advancing faster than existing law can address.
- Requiring independent organizations to embed on-site at AI companies for safety audits is framed as a concrete accountability mechanism rather than relying on self-regulation by the industry.
- Acting now, even through a study process, is preferable to waiting for a catastrophic AI failure before establishing emergency shutdown protocols.

## What the right says
- The executive order merely convenes a panel to produce recommendations within two months, meaning it mandates no actual kill switch or binding safety requirement yet, making it largely symbolic.
- A governor cannot unilaterally impose technical requirements like a kill switch on private companies; any real mandate would require the Democrat-controlled legislature to pass new law, which this order cannot guarantee.
- The move looks like political positioning ahead of a possible 2028 presidential run rather than a serious regulatory fix, especially given Newsom's simultaneous call for federal action he has no power to compel.
- Government mandates and heavy oversight of private AI firms are viewed skeptically, given a track record of regulatory overreach that critics say rarely achieves its stated goals.

## Common ground
- Newsom signed the executive order on a Friday, directing a group of AI experts to develop recommendations within two months.
- The order specifically raises the idea of an emergency 'kill switch' and independent third-party safety audits of AI companies as options for the expert group to consider.
- Newsom is widely viewed as a potential 2028 presidential contender, and the timing of the order is notable in that context.
- AI's rapid advancement is acknowledged as a significant issue requiring some level of attention, even if there's disagreement over who should regulate it and how.

## Sources
- [NBC News](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/california-gavin-newsom-ai-order-safety-regulations-kill-switch-rcna598570) (Lean Left)
- [NBC News](https://www.nbcnews.com/select/shopping/power-outage-food-safety-rcna598566) (Lean Left)
- [Newsmax](https://www.newsmax.com/politics/jim-mclaughlin-midterms-florida-georgia/2026/09/18/id/1269951) (Right)
- [RedState](https://redstate.com/wardclark/2026/09/18/newsoms-latest-empty-gesture-california-ai-kill-switch-eo-n2207095) (Unknown)
- [Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/09/18/california-gov-gavin-newsom-signs-ai-executive-order/) (Lean Left)
- [Washington Times](https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/sep/18/gavin-newsom-orders-review-ai-kill-switch-advanced-models/) (Right)

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