Californias Gavin Newsom tries to save workers from AI with executive order

Gov. Newsom tries to stem massive layoffs with executive order on AI | Mashable

Gov. Gavin Newsom announces strategy for helping workers with AI job loss. Credit: Mashable composite; Sheila Fitzgerald / Shutterstock

California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order Thursday addressing the imminent "disruptions" of artificial intelligence on jobs. The Democratic governor and widely-rumored 2028 presidential contender directed the state to explore a number of measures to prevent nightmare scenarios for workers affected by AI job loss. The executive order focuses on policies for severance, employment insurance, universal basic income, and workforce training, among other potential responses to AI worker displacement. You May Also Like

SEE ALSO: Meta will track employee mouse movements and keystrokes for AI training, report says "This moment demands that we reimagine the entire system — how we work, how we govern, how we prepare people for the future — and that work is starting right here in the Golden State," Newsom said in a statement. Meta layoffs: AI job losses mountThe timing of Newsom's executive order is noteworthy. On Wednesday, California-based tech giant Meta laid off 8,000 employees, 10 percent of its workforce, and moved another several thousand to roles focused on AI. Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. Loading... Sign Me Up

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By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up! Despite Meta's recent strong quarterly financial performance, the company's CEO Mark Zuckerberg discussed the layoffs as part of the company's aggressive transition to AI."Success isn’t a given. A.I. is the most consequential technology of our lifetimes," Zuckerberg wrote in a memo to staff, according to the New York Times. "The companies that lead the way will define the next generation."Other major tech companies, including Cisco and Microsoft, are shedding jobs as they focus on AI. Related Stories Top tech jobs 2026: 5 of the fastest-growing tech, AI careers Stephen Colbert mocks Amazon's plans to replace half a million jobs with robots Amazon to cut 16,000 jobs as it shifts resources to AI Generative AI was everywhere at Google I/O 2026, but who is it for? Stephen King weighs in on Gavin Newsom trolling Trump

The timeline for Newsom's AI executive orderNewsom's executive order established a short timeline for evaluating and identifying new solutions. Within 90 days, the state's Employment Development Department is supposed to launch a dashboard showing AI's impacts on California jobs, based on unemployment insurance data.By mid-October, various state agencies should finish reviewing specific policies and practices, including how unionized workplaces are addressing the adoption of AI technology. "Today is just the first step as we rewrite policy and direction, creating a future of work that works for all," Newsom said.

Topics Artificial Intelligence Social Good Work

Rebecca Ruiz Senior Reporter Rebecca Ruiz is a Senior Reporter at Mashable. She frequently covers mental health, digital culture, and technology. Her areas of expertise include suicide prevention, screen use and mental health, parenting, youth well-being, and meditation and mindfulness. Rebecca's experience prior to Mashable includes working as a staff writer, reporter, and editor at NBC News Digital and as a staff writer at Forbes. Rebecca has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and a masters degree from U.C. Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism.

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