Sacramento, California – Artificial intelligence is moving deeper into everyday life, but who should decide where the technology can be used, what limits it should face, and who takes responsibility when something goes wrong?
California has turned to its own residents for answers. The results reveal a strong demand for accountability, public involvement, and clearer protections as AI continues to reshape workplaces, schools, businesses, and communities.
Governor Gavin Newsom announced the findings of California’s first statewide public-engagement initiative focused on artificial intelligence, describing the effort as a first-in-the-nation approach to bringing residents directly into government decisions about emerging technology.
The findings come from Engaged California, a digital platform designed to collect public opinions and encourage discussions about important policy questions. The statewide AI initiative launched in May 2026, allowing Californians to share their concerns and recommendations.
Three priorities emerged from the discussions: holding AI companies responsible for the harm their products cause, protecting communities and the environment from AI’s resource demands, and establishing clear rules for using the technology safely.
Participants did not agree on every issue. Some supported stronger oversight of AI developers, while others expressed concerns about excessive regulation.
One participant suggested requiring AI models to undergo bias testing before becoming publicly available. Another called for greater access to information about how AI systems operate, including independent research into their effects on people’s ability to think critically.
Concerns about data centers, transparency, and the environmental demands of AI development also surfaced during the engagement process.
Governor Newsom emphasized that residents should help determine how the technology develops rather than simply adjust to changes made by companies and regulators.
“AI is changing how we live, work, learn, and connect, and Californians should have a real voice in what that future looks like,” Newsom said.
The recommendations will help inform California’s existing AI policy framework, which has expanded considerably in recent years.
In 2025, Newsom signed SB 53, requiring major AI developers to disclose safety frameworks and report certain serious safety incidents. Additional legislation signed in 2026 established oversight mechanisms for independent AI safety assessments and auditors.
California has also introduced protections addressing AI-related workplace disruption, children’s interactions with AI chatbots, deepfakes, privacy, and technology-driven fraud.
Engaged California itself began as a pilot following the Los Angeles firestorms, when affected residents helped identify recovery priorities that produced 19 recommendations for government action.
With the statewide AI engagement now completed, officials plan to use the public’s recommendations to help shape future policy decisions, keeping residents involved as the technology continues to advance.