Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a first-in-the-nation AI Cyber Defense Program to bolster California's critical infrastructure against escalating artificial intelligence-enabled cyber threats. This initiative builds on previous executive orders, directing state agencies to use AI for vulnerability detection, enhance cybersecurity coordination, provide advanced defenses to local governments, and designate AI Cybersecurity Officers across state agencies. The program is a proactive measure in response to increasingly sophisticated and frequent cyberattacks, including those exploiting AI, and addresses federal rollbacks in cybersecurity funding.
A future‑focused, pro‑innovation approach
California is taking a proactive stance in AI innovation and cybersecurity. Key actions include signing the Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act in 2025 to require disclosure of safety frameworks and incident reporting from AI developers, and updating Cal-Secure to Cal-Secure 2.0 in 2026 to strengthen defenses against AI-enabled cyber threats. The role of the California Cybersecurity Integration Center (Cal-CSIC) has been expanded to include AI-focused defense. Furthermore, the state is supporting responsible AI-driven economic growth and addressing its labor impacts through executive orders, launching 'Engaged California' for public input on AI policy, and reinforcing privacy protections for its residents, while also establishing an Innovation Council to leverage AI for improved government services.
