California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Aug. 10 a new artificial intelligence (AI) cyber defense initiative aimed at protecting state systems, local governments, and critical infrastructure from AI-enabled cyber threats.
The AI Cyber Defense Program will operate within the California Cybersecurity Integration Center (Cal-CSIC), according to the governor’s press release. The initiative will use AI for vulnerability detection, network hardening, and incident response while expanding access to advanced cybersecurity capabilities for local governments and critical infrastructure partners.
Newsom is also directing every state agency to designate an AI cybersecurity officer.
“The digital environment is rapidly evolving before our eyes,” Newsom said. “Attacks are faster, more sophisticated, and more frequent, putting at risk the basic systems families count on. California can either wait for the next crisis, or we can build the kind of defenses this moment demands. We are choosing to build.”
The new initiative follows California’s July 31 release of Cal-Secure 2.0, an updated statewide cybersecurity roadmap focused on workforce development, coordination, technology, and increased use of AI-enabled cybersecurity tools.
It also builds on Newsom’s 2023 and 2026 executive orders on artificial intelligence, which established state policies around responsible AI use, procurement, security, privacy, and accountability.
“This new program will help Cal OES and our partners detect threats sooner, share information more efficiently, strengthen defenses, and respond faster, helping keep these critical services safe and reliable for communities across California,” said Caroline Thomas Jacobs, director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and state homeland security advisor.
The governor’s office said the effort comes as advanced AI systems demonstrate a growing ability to support sophisticated cyber operations, while attackers are increasingly using AI to make cyberattacks cheaper and more effective.
Government Operations Agency Secretary Nick Maduros said the initiative will help state agencies, local governments, and critical infrastructure partners improve their ability to “detect, prevent, and respond to cyber incidents.”
