Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed legislation aimed at preparing California’s film, television and other creative-industry workers for the expanding use of artificial intelligence. Assembly Bill 2504 will establish the Future of Creative Industries Pilot Program, with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office leading the development of training models. The program is expected to be shaped with input from Hollywood employers, labor unions and technology companies, including Adobe. The bill arrives as AI continues to reshape creative work and as lawmakers and technology advocates debate whether the industry needs stronger safety rules. Newsom also issued an executive order calling for a panel of experts to develop recommendations, including whether companies should be required to create “kill switches” for artificial-intelligence systems. Hannah Linkenhoker, a senior policy and political adviser at talent agency WME, helped develop AB 2504. WME formally backed the measure, which also received support from SAG-AFTRA. “The toothpaste is out of the tube on the technology existing, so it’s very important that AI policymaking happens now,” Linkenhoker said. She said the goal is to accept that the technology is advancing while ensuring that it supports rather than replaces human creative work. “Most of our clients are of the position that human work should not be replaced — that AI should be tools for artists, and not the other way around,” she said. The legislation represents a significant policy win for a California entertainment industry facing economic pressure and the loss of production to other states, including those offering competing tax incentives. Supporters say workforce training could give creative professionals more influence over how AI is adopted on sets, in studios and across related businesses. Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan, an Orinda Democrat who authored the bill, has become one of the Legislature’s prominent voices on AI policy. At a gathering celebrating the measure’s passage, she received a gift bag containing old-fashioned stationery and a pen — a pointed nod to concerns about technology replacing established forms of creative work. Linkenhoker described AB 2504 as an initial step toward a broader coalition focused on worker protections and responsible AI policy. “We personally believe deeply that we have control over what the future ultimately looks like,” she said, arguing that policymakers can shape that future by acting before the technology advances further.