California Proposes AI Kill Switch; Trump Backs Industry

Key Takeaways

• <ul><li>California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order proposing a kill switch for advanced AI systems to prevent harm</li><li>President Trump has dismissed tech leaders' warnings about AI risks as a hoax while strongly supporting the industry</li><li>Dr. Kate Crawford called for a unified global framework to regulate AI, warning of harmful uses without shared rules</li><li>74% of utility leaders say AI data center growth impacts grid reliability, and 83% report higher residential electricity bills</li><li>The U.S. Senate blocked the Ratepayer Protection Act that would have required data centers to pay for new energy infrastructure</li><li>Global data center electricity use rose 17% in 2025, with AI-focused centers up 50%</li><li>National Grid Partners joined the AI Energy Management Alliance with Google and NVIDIA as a founding member</li><li>Amazon joined new commercial AI ecosystems through a pilot program, and SpaceX wants to move compute infrastructure beyond Earth</li><li>Approov Limited is presenting on defending mobile apps against AI-driven recursive self-improvement agentic attacks at an OWASP LA meetup on September 23</li><li>A Montana poll shows 57% of voters use AI weekly, but only 12% see a positive societal impact</li></ul>

California leader signs order to regulate AI with kill switch

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order on Friday to consider regulating artificial intelligence. The order includes a proposal for a kill switch to stop AI systems from causing harm. A group of world leading experts will develop a framework for state law. The move aims to make California a leader in AI regulation.

Newsom order pushes for AI safety and emergency shutoff

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order on Friday to speed up artificial intelligence safety measures. The order includes a plan for companies to create a kill switch or emergency shutoff for advanced AI models. The goal is to reduce risks from powerful AI systems. The order will also explore transparency and accountability in AI development.

Newsom advances AI kill switch plan on The Bottom Line

On September 18, 2026, Gov. Gavin Newsom advanced an AI safety regulation proposal that includes a potential kill switch. Will Thibeau, Director of The Claremont Institute American Military Project, discussed the executive order on The Bottom Line. The proposal seeks to improve safety rules for artificial intelligence. It highlights growing focus on controlling powerful AI systems.

Tech week shows AI growth and rising security threats

This week in tech, artificial intelligence expanded into advertising, robotics, science and even space. SpaceX wants to move compute infrastructure beyond Earth. Amazon joined new commercial AI ecosystems through a pilot program. The week also showed serious security risks including credential theft, privacy concerns, browser threats and AI assisted attacks on businesses.

Universities urged to teach AI in law programs

Universities have been urged to include AI in the training of lawyers. Former Chief Justice Dr Willy Mutunga said law schools should prepare students for a changing profession. He spoke at Zetech University during the TechSheria Scholarship unveiling. Zetech says its law program embraces AI and has rules for ethical use. The first scholars will get full tuition support for a four year Bachelor of Laws program.

AI ethics advocate urges global cooperation for responsible technology

Dr. Kate Crawford, a safe and ethical AI advocate and professor at the University of New South Wales, called for international cooperation to regulate AI. She spoke at a recent conference on AI and ethics, stressing the need for a unified global framework. Crawford warned that without shared rules, AI could be used for harmful or malicious purposes.

NEHEN event explores practical AI use across healthcare

NEHEN hosted an October 2026 event focused on implementing AI in healthcare and life sciences. Foley Hoag sponsored the gathering, which featured keynote speeches and panel discussions on real-world AI applications. Speakers addressed challenges like data quality, system integration, security, privacy, and workforce adoption. The event also included a moderated Q&A session for deeper discussion.

Utility survey shows AI data centers push grid reliability concerns

National Grid Partners released its third annual Utility Innovation Survey on September 18, 2026, revealing that 74% of utility leaders say AI data center growth impacts grid reliability. The survey found 78% of utilities are deploying AI to manage rising demand and interconnection needs. Grid reliability now ranks above net zero as a top priority, while 83% report higher electricity bills for residential customers. National Grid Partners also announced new investments in AI startups and became a founding member of the AI Energy Management Alliance with Google, NVIDIA, and others.

Senate blocks data center bill amid AI energy debate

The U.S. Senate blocked the Ratepayer Protection Act on September 17, which would have required large data centers to pay for new energy infrastructure. The bill was introduced by Rep. Gabe Evans and Rep. Kathy Castor and brought to the Senate by Sen. Jon Husted, but Sen. Martin Heinrich objected. The legislation came as global data center electricity use rose 17% in 2025, with AI-focused centers up 50%. Nearly 70% of respondents in a poll opposed building AI data centers in their neighborhoods.

Tech leaders warn AI risks grow as Trump dismisses concerns

Tech bosses have called for a slowdown in artificial intelligence and formal government guardrails. President Trump has dismissed these warnings as a hoax, showing strong support for the AI industry. Guardian writers Jonathan Freedland and Blake Montgomery discussed the tension between AI optimism and potential dangers. The discussion highlighted growing concerns about unregulated AI development.

OWASP LA Meetup Explores AI Agent Threats to Mobile App Security

The OWASP Los Angeles chapter will host an in-person meetup on September 23, 2026, at 929 Colorado Ave. in Santa Monica, California. Mark Mazur, Field CTO at Approov Limited, will present on defending mobile apps and APIs against AI-driven attacks. The event will explore recursive self-improvement (RSI) agentic attacks including automated scraping, API stuffing, and inventory hoarding. Approov Limited sponsors the event, which runs from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. PDT for cybersecurity professionals and developers.

Montanans Embrace AI but Worry About Its Societal Effects

A poll found that about 57% of registered voters in Montana use AI for online searches several times a week, while 29% use it for work and 26% use it for writing. However, only about 12% believe AI has a positive impact on society, and 40% see its impact as at least somewhat negative. Kristen Intemann, a professor at Montana State University, says trust in AI involves ethical concerns, not just accuracy. Experts say AI could broaden access to expertise in rural areas but also raise worries about over-reliance on the technology.

Sources

• Newsom signs executive order to consider AI regulation, including proposal for ‘kill switch’
• California governor signs order pushing for an AI ‘kill switch’
• Gov Gavin Newsom advances AI ‘kill switch’ proposal
• AI Expansion, Robot Factories, and Escalating Security Threats Define This Week in Tech
• Integrate AI in legal training, universities urged
• Safe and ethical AI advocate calls international cooperation "absolutely essential"
• NEHEN: Beyond the Hype: Implementing AI Across Healthcare
• 2026 Utility Innovation Survey: Industry leaders turning more to AI as data-center boom reshapes grid planning
• Senate Blocks Data Center Bill as AI Boom Reshapes U.S. Energy and Tech Markets
• Is Trump’s AI obsession walking the world into disaster?
• OWASP Los Angeles Meetup: How AI Agents Are Changing Mobile App and API Security
• Montanans are using AI. And most are wary of its societal impact.