The new law will establish some of the first-in-the-nation regulations on large-scale AI models without hurting the state’s homegrown industry, Newsom said. Many of the world’s top AI companies are located in California and will have to follow the requirements. The legislation requires AI companies to implement and disclose publicly safety protocols to prevent their most advanced models from being used to cause major harm. It drew opposition from some tech companies, which argued that AI legislation should be done at the federal level. The state has deployed generative AI tools to spot wildfires and address highway congestion and road safety, among other things.