Gov. Gavin Newsom is positioning California as the nation’s counterweight to Washington’s sweeping federal AI mandate, announcing a new California Innovation Council to guide state agencies on artificial intelligence policy.
The move comes just days after President Donald Trump signed an executive order that preempts states from enacting their own AI regulations.
Here’s what to know about AI and California.
Newsom’s council vs. Trump’s federal framework
On Tuesday, Newsom unveiled a 30-member council of academics, tech leaders, and policy experts tasked with accelerating the adoption of “responsible AI” in state government. Members include representatives from Mozilla, Stanford, the UC system, and former Sen. Laphonza Butler, now a senior adviser at OpenAI.
The council will focus on four areas:
Meanwhile, Trump argues that “there must be only One Rulebook” for AI, warning that a patchwork of state regulations would “destroy AI in its infancy.” His administration’s hands-off approach has drawn praise from Silicon Valley executives aligned with the White House, even as consumer advocates warn of unchecked risks.
California’s AI push highlights a values clash
Newsom’s announcement underscores a philosophical divide: California sees AI as a tool to streamline government and protect consumers, while Trump frames regulation as a threat to U.S. dominance in the global AI race.
“We’re not going to sit on the sidelines and let others define the future for us. But we’re going to do it responsibly—making sure we capture the benefits, mitigate the harms, and continue to lead with the values that define this state,” Newsom said in a statement.
California already hosts 33 of the world’s 50 largest AI companies, including Nvidia and Anthropic. The state recently launched Poppy.AI, an AI-powered assistant designed to improve data security and efficiency across agencies.
States resist federal preemption as AI debate heats up
With at least 38 states adopting around 100 AI measures in 2025, the battle over who sets the rules is intensifying.
Trump’s executive order overrides state-level AI laws, despite bipartisan resistance in Congress. Earlier this year, the Senate voted 99-1 to strip a proposed 10-year moratorium on state AI regulations from a GOP-backed bill. Lawmakers like Sen. Maria Cantwell argue that states play a critical role in combating deepfakes, robocalls, and other AI-driven harms.
“States can fight robocalls, deepfakes and provide safe autonomous vehicle laws,” Cantwell said. “This also allows us to work together nationally to provide a new federal framework on Artificial Intelligence that accelerates U.S. leadership in AI while still protecting consumers.”
Consumer advocates echo that concern. “Two years ago, no one would have thought an AI chatbot would coach kids to take their lives,” said South Carolina Rep. Brandon Guffey. “This is done in the interest of the world’s richest companies and at the expense of our children.
What are some of California’s big AI companies?
California has become the epicenter of artificial intelligence innovation, home to some of the world’s most influential AI companies, shaping everything from enterprise software to generative models. Here’s a look at some of the biggest companies.
OpenAI (San Francisco)
C3.ai (Redwood City)
Scale AI (San Francisco)
SambaNova Systems (Palo Alto)
Anthropic (San Francisco)
Thinking Machines Lab (San Francisco, CA)
Essential AI tech terms for understanding AI terms
As the use of AI spreads across all aspects of life, here are some terms you should be familiar with.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Newsom launches AI council as Trump pushes federal rules on new tech
Reporting by James Ward, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
