California to impose new AI regulations in defiance of Trump call

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order Monday to develop new AI regulations for companies doing business with the state, directly opposing President Trump's push to keep the artificial intelligence industry lightly regulated. The order instructs state agencies to establish AI policies within four months that prioritize public safety and individual rights in the use of AI systems. Trump has called for minimal regulation of the AI sector, viewing stricter rules as "cumbersome" obstacles to industry growth. The move marks an escalation of California's long-standing practice of setting its own standards separate from federal policy, particularly on technology and environmental issues. The state's AI framework could influence other Democratic-led states or become a template for future federal regulation if political control of Congress shifts.