California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday signed an executive order requiring AI companies that do business with the state to institute safety and privacy guidelines. The order (PDF) is designed to ensure that companies contracting with the state adhere to rigorous standards and develop responsible policies to prevent misuse of their technology while protecting consumers' safety and privacy, according to Newsom's office. "California leads in AI, and we're going to use every tool we have to ensure companies protect people's rights, not exploit them or put them in harm's way," Newsom said in a statement. "While others in Washington are designing policy and creating contracts in the shadow of misuse, we're focused on doing this the right way." The executive order comes as the Trump administratio