California Governor Warns Against AI Over-regulation

Gov. Gavin Newsom warned on Wednesday against stifling the burgeoning artificial intelligence sector, sending a signal to Democratic lawmakers who are advancing dozens of AI bills in the state Legislature.

“I don’t want to cede this space to other states or other countries,” Newsom said during a daylong AI event in San Francisco. “If we over-regulate, if we overindulge, if we chase the shiny object, we could put ourselves in a perilous position.”

The Democratic governor of California and former San Francisco mayor has long been solicitous of its homegrown technology industry, calling it a critical source of tax revenue and a key to the state’s competitive edge. The position has put him at odds with legislative Democrats and union allies who have increasingly sought to rein in major tech players like autonomous vehicle companies.

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