Sponsored by
Avalanche of AI Safety Concerns Continue to Mount
Colorado’s high country saw its first snowflakes a few days ago, which was fitting as September included an avalanche of reported AI-related safety incidents. A cluster of large U.S. based AI developers have issued calls to slow the pace of AI development and enact AI policies, with some sharing a different view. For example, one company believes AI drift is still (OpenAI flags 6 new safety incidents) happening and the industry has not solved alignment and monitoring to continue to responsibly scale the technology. In order to achieve AI safety, oversight and regulations must be technically possible.
Those in favor of a slowdown:
Anthropic’s CEO essay, “We Must Pace the Frontier”
U.N. Civil Rights Commissioner’s open letter to urgently govern AI and pace development
Those against a slowdown:
Meta’s CEO post on X
President Trump’s Truth Social post
Other State Policy Action
CA: Over five significant tech bills passed the finish line in California this month.
The Governor signed two new laws focused on AI safety, transparency, and accountability, the first of their kind to make it over the finish line across states. The new laws, SB 813 and AB 1405, creates "independent verification organizations,” new licensed entities designed to act as third-parties evaluators assessing risks of AI systems and models. These laws build on California’s 2025 Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act (SB 53), which requires frontier AI companies to conduct and publish risk assessments.
The Governor signed AB 1159, which modernizes current student data protections, including banning technology vendors from using student data to train AI models.
The Governor signed AB 1709, which prohibits social media companies from providing addictive features to minor users and creates the e-Safety Advisory Commission under the Department of Justice.
The Governor signed SB 1119, which amends a new law that regulates companion chatbots, including adding new requirements for operators to undertake and report risk assessments and independent child safety audits.
Another new law approved by the Governor, SB 867, prohibits toy manufactures from adding AI chatbot capabilities to toys.
A bill, AB 2564, focused on prohibiting retailers from engaging in "surveillance pricing” failed to make it to the Governor’s desk after missing a key deadline.
The Governor has until the end of month to sign or veto proposed laws the state legislature passed. Here are five tech bills worth keeping an eye on that still need the Governor’s approval:
The Governor is still contemplating signing SB 1130, which requires wearable recording devices to include a light to indicate the device is recording and prohibits an individual capturing sound or video in a place of business without others consent.
Another bill awaiting the Governor’s signature is SB 947, which creates new requirements for employers related to when they can and can not use automated decision making tools in employment-related decisions.
A proposed law (SB 574) the Governor is also considering establishes how licensed attorneys are allowed to use generative AI tools while practicing law in the state of California.
Another bill, AB 1542, expands the California Consumer Privacy Act to prohibit businesses from selling or sharing personal information to a third-party unless directed by the consumer.
A privacy bill, SB 923, expands current consumer data protections to streamline processes when consumers request the business delete their data, among exercising other data protection-related rights.
California’s Chief Executive is also continuing to deploy AI across California’s state government. The Governor recently announced AskCA, a new AI-powered digital assistant to help Californians better navigate state and local services.
Today, the Governor issued an executive order calling for the federal government to adopt California’s AI framework, including third-party AI audits, an emergency shutoff of AI frontier models, among others.
DE: Earlier this month, the Governor signed HB 380, which makes changes to the Delaware Personal Data Privacy Act in a variety ways such as expanding which companies the new law applies to and expanding consumers rights around processing of sensitive data.
FL: The Florida Board of Education voted Wednesday to require public school districts and charter schools to establish rules for AI use and include them in their internet safety policies. The new rules require schools to obtain consent from parents on AI use in the classroom, including providing alternative, non-artificial intelligence instructional tools to those who opt out. The rules also require schools to prohibit vendors from selling student data or using it to train AI models.
MA: Earlier this month, the Governor signed an executive order establishing new requirements for data center development and operations.
MI: The House Committee on Communications and Technology will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 22nd at 10:30 AM to vote on HB 6257, a bill that requires independent verification and validation of specific state technology projects and HB 6258, which proposes to add new requirements for the procurement of software projects that include AI capabilities.
MO: The Governor signed an executive order restricting license plate reader cameras companies from retaining data longer than 30 days. The order also specifies state entities and local law enforcement agencies are prohibited from using facial recognition capabilities integrated into the software and outlines misuse of the technology like the prohibition of surveilling.
NJ: The Governor signed a new law (S3379/A4096) which requires data center reporting on energy and water use and issued statewide guidance to provide support to local decision makers while negotiating data center projects.
SC: The South Carolina Senate Committee held its inaugural Senate Committee on Artificial Intelligence earlier this week covering state AI law trends and hearing advice from two professors.
The Federal Communications Commission added “advanced robotic devices,” like humanoids produced in foreign countries to a list of communications equipment and services that are banned because of the risks posed to national security.
TikTok settled with the U.S. Department of Justice for $400 million to resolve litigation around compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.
Google announced the launch of the Deepmind Institute to support interdisciplinary research and collaborate to answer critical technical and societal questions raised from advanced AI.
A bipartisan duo of U.S. Senators launched a new, “Senate Creators Caucus” to engage creators in the conversation around how creators impact the economy and society. Another bipartisan caucus, “Innovators Caucus,” was launched this week focused on AI small businesses.
Another entity launched this summer, the Commission on AI and the Future of the American Workforce, a bipartisan initiative co-chaired by Gina Raimondo (former U.S. Secretary of Commerce) and Paul Ryan (former Speaker of the House) is a cross-ideological body of commissioners from business, labor, academia, and government to create policy recommendations.
Microsoft announced a deal with the American Federation of Teachers on agreed upon guardrails and privacy standards for its AI in schools.
OpenAI announced new investments in government-led cyber defense and discounts for OpenAI Government products for federal, state, local, and tribal governments.
Anthropic | Detecting and Countering Misuse of AI (Threat Analysis: Oct. 2025 - Aug. 2026) |
DeepMind Institute | |
Institute for Strategic Dialogue | |
National Bureau of Economic Research | |
U.S. Census Bureau |
Tech Policy & Governance Jobs
Company/Organization: | Title: | Closing Date: |
|---|---|---|
Institute for AI Policy and Strategy | 09/27/26 | |
SeedAI | Ongoing | |
Americans for Responsible Innovation | Ongoing | |
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) | 10/08/26 | |
Information Technology & Innovation Foundation | Ongoing | |
Code for America | Ongoing | |
Partnership on AI | Ongoing | |
Credo AI | Ongoing | |
Institute for Law & AI | 10/12/26 |
Do you have leads, tips, corrections, feedback or resources you would like to share? Send your advice to [email protected].
Disclosure: This is a human-written and driven publication. As a small business owner and mighty team of 1, I use AI tools to optimize my small business operations as a part of my admin tech stack. Regarding this publication, AI is mainly used to help with catchy titles, as a thesaurus when writing and a partner when creating cartoons. (Thanks, Canva, and not an ad!) As a secret doodler, I add my human touch using my digital pad and pen. I also use Grammarly, with AI built in, to help with copy editing/grammar check (again, mighty team of one!) Thanks for reading. 😊
How 2M+ Professionals Stay Ahead on AI
AI is moving fast and most people are falling behind.
The Rundown AI keeps you ahead of the curve.
It's a free AI newsletter that keeps you up-to-date on the latest AI news, and teaches you how to apply it in just 5 minutes a day.
Plus, complete the quiz after signing up and they’ll recommend the best AI tools, guides, and courses — tailored to your needs.
