Careful not to stifle innovation, Newsom hesitates on major tech bills

Backstage at one of the largest artificial intelligence conferences in the world, Gov. Gavin Newsom listened to two leaders in the field debate opposite views of a high-profile bill on his desk to protect Californians from the technology. "Honestly, I take advantage of opportunities like this," Newsom said recounting the exchange later during an interview at the Salesforce conference in San Francisco in mid-September. "I just watched them, and I was like, 'Here we go. Should I sign it, or should I not?' Then'absolutely,' 'absolutely not' and back and forth." The scene offered a peek into Newsom's deliberations on regulating the tech industry, including an explosion of AI companies, and the forces seeking to influence him during bill-signing season at the state Capitol.