California Gov. Gavin Newsom Signs Bill Creating AI Safety Measures

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed the Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act (TFAIA), which requires AI companies to implement and disclose publicly safety protocols to prevent their most advanced models from being used to cause major harm. The legislation targets AI systems that meet a frontier threshold based on high computing power, with a catastrophic risk defined as at least $1 billion in damage or more than 50 injuries or deaths.

Companies must report any critical safety incidents to the state within 15 days, and the law provides whistleblower protections for AI workers, a public cloud for researchers, and a fine of $1 million per violation. It drew opposition from some tech firms, while Anthropic described the regulations as “practical safeguards” that formalise safety practices many companies are already undertaking.

Newsom’s signing follows a veto of a broader version last year and incorporates recommendations from an expert group, including Fei-Fei Li, with Wiener noting the law avoids overburdening startups.