California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order Friday directing state agencies to pursue a “kill switch” that could shut down advanced artificial intelligence models during emergencies. The order directs the Government Operations Agency, with the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, to convene national experts and recommend ways to strengthen California’s AI safety laws, with recommendations due within two months. Newsom said the order accelerates implementation of safety checks and a “kill switch” within frontier AI programs. It accelerates two new AI oversight laws and directs experts to recommend safeguards including independent audits of frontier AI companies, verification of required safety reports, tested emergency “kill switches,” and expanded reporting of incidents in which developers lose control of AI systems. Experts will consider requiring frontier AI companies to install emergency shutoffs subject to continuing independent verification, and placing independent verification organizations inside laboratories to conduct regular audits and evaluations of safety frameworks, transparency reports, and risk assessments. The order follows critical incidents including the Hugging Face attack, after which stakeholders including leading AI executives called for pacing AI development and stricter government regulations. Hugging Face said stronger safeguards could have limited the breach. The order accelerates Senate Bill 813 and Assembly Bill 1405.