Gavin Newsom EO Aimed at Tightening CA Procurement Rules for AI

Vetting AI for Government: California’s Executive Order Sets New Expectations California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a new executive order aimed at tightening California’s procurement rules for artificial intelligence (AI) vendors and “raising the bar” for companies that want to sell AI tools to the state. The administration says the goal is to ensure contractors meet strong standards and can demonstrate responsible policies that prevent misuse, while protecting users’ safety and privacy.

The announcement also frames California’s approach as a contrast to recent federal contracting “missteps,” emphasizing that AI adopted by the state should not enable bad actors to exploit data, undermine security, or violate civil rights. Practically, the order directs the Government Operations Agency to develop a plan for updated contracting processes and best practices that vet companies based in part on how they attest to and explain safeguards addressing key risks, including exploitation or distribution of illegal content, biased model behavior or lack of bias prevention technology, and violations of civil rights and free speech in AI tools.

Original reporting: natlawreview.com.