On March 18, 2025, the Joint California Policy Working Group on AI Frontier Models released a draft report that could help shape how the state navigates the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI). Commissioned by Governor Gavin Newsom in September 2024, the report is the result of a collaboration between three prominent figures in academia and policy: Fei-Fei Li, Co-Director of the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence; Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar, President of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; and Jennifer Tour Chayes, Dean of the UC Berkeley College of Computing, Data Science, and Society.

How California decides to tackle oversight of AI — both in terms of fostering innovation and overseeing implementation — could influence the national conversation and how other states, and the federal government, approach similar issues. 

The report focuses on frontier AI models — cutting-edge systems that push the boundaries of what AI can achieve. These models hold immense promise for innovation, from advancing scientific discovery to transforming industries. Yet, they also raise significant concerns around safety, ethics, and societal well-being. The draft aims to strike a balance between fostering innovation and establishing guardrails to mitigate material risks.

The state of California is actively soliciting feedback on the draft from experts across disciplines and sectors. Interested members of the computing research community are encouraged to read the draft report and submit feedback by April 8, 2025.

For additional details, visit the California Frontier AI Governance site, or contact the working group at info@cafrontieraigov.org.