Article
Source: The Government Contractor
Article
05.14.26
In an article co-authored by Government Contracts & Disputes partner Michael Rizzo and special counsel Mary Buxton, the authors examine California Governor Gavin Newsom’s Executive Order N-5-26 and its implications for AI governance. The article explains that California is using its procurement power to require AI vendors seeking state contracts to demonstrate safeguards against illegal content, harmful bias and violations of civil rights, signaling a shift from studying AI to actively regulating its use.
The authors also discuss the order’s broader regulatory impact, including California’s willingness to independently assess AI-related risks rather than automatically adopting federal determinations. Although the order does not yet impose binding requirements, it directs state agencies to develop AI governance and watermarking standards within 120 days, potentially influencing future national and global AI regulations.
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