FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CFT – A Union of Educators and Classified Professionals
Contact: Matthew Hardy, 510-703-5291

Sacramento, CA –  CFT – A Union of Educators and Classified Professionals released the following statement on behalf of President Jeff Freitas following the Executive Order released earlier today by Governor Gavin Newsom calling on experts to provide California with recommendations within two months on how the state could strengthen existing AI safety and security laws.

“We are at a turning point with AI. If we continue to let AI infiltrate our homes, classrooms, and businesses without intervention and better regulation, we will put our children, our schools, and our workforce at grave risk. Even the leaders in the AI industry are sounding the alarm: the time to intervene is now.

“Governor Newsom took the correct action by issuing an Executive Order today that will expedite AI safety laws recently passed in California and will have experts come together to discuss solutions for existing and future AI policies in California. This is a first step of many that we must take to protect our schools, our communities, and our environment from the dangers of this new and fast developing technology.

“Educators, parents, and students must be included in this discussion. We are on the front lines witnessing the harmful effects of unregulated AI in the classroom. Our children are relying on us to get this right, their future depends on it. Governor Newsom took urgent and needed action on this technology, and we urge him, and are willing to work with him, to do more.”

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CFT – A Union of Educators and Classified Professionals represents 120,000 teachers, faculty, and school employees in public and private schools and colleges, from early childhood through higher education. It is the statewide affiliate of the AFT. More information at www.cft.org.