Governor Newsom announced the results of California's first statewide public engagement effort on artificial intelligence policy. According to a state report, three themes emerged most strongly from the engagement: holding AI companies accountable for harm they cause, protecting people and the environment from the resource demands of AI development, and setting rules for where and how AI can be used safely.
The Engaged California platform, which the state launched in May 2026, gathered input from residents across the state on how AI should be developed, used, and governed. Participants offered diverse perspectives on regulation, including calls for stronger worker protections and greater transparency from AI companies, as well as cautions against overregulation.
Engaged California grew out of a pilot program the state launched after the LA firestorms, in which the state gathered input from thousands of residents to shape recovery efforts. That pilot led to 19 recommendations for government action, according to the state.
The state said the recommendations will help guide its policy decisions on artificial intelligence.