Tom DuBois

🚨𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗮 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗨𝗽 𝗔𝗜 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲🚨 Governor Newsom signed SB 53 on Sep 29th. This puts the Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act, a landmark law that sets first-of-its-kind guardrails for frontier AI in the U.S. This "helps advance California’s position as a national leader in responsible and ethical AI, the world’s fourth-largest economy, the birthplace of new technology, and the top pipeline for tech talent." This isn’t just a state policy win, it’s a template for the nation. Here’s why this matters, and why it should excite every product leader, AI engineer, and policymaker: 🫱🏻‍🫲🏼 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 + 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘁 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀 ...𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘀𝘁 SB 53 requires frontier AI developers to publicly publish their governance frameworks, enforce reporting of critical safety incidents, and institute whistleblower protections. It acknowledges a simple truth: you don’t solve AI risk by choking off progress, you do it by embedding trust and accountability into its foundations. 🚀 𝗜𝘁 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 Optional “abstain when uncertain” zones are no longer just good ideals, they’re becoming legal expectations. With SB 53, California is telling the world: models must be safe by design, not by hope. 📘 𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗚𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 With its annual review requirements and multi-stakeholder updates, SB 53 is designed to evolve as AI does. Its “trust but verify” framework is exactly the kind of responsive regulation the federal level needs to take note of. 📢 𝗔 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 Now is the moment for other states — and ultimately the federal government — to follow California’s lead. When a robust, fair, and enforceable AI law exists, industry leaders and builders gain clarity, legitimacy, and a path to scale responsibly. If you’re in policy, tech, or governance — let’s elevate this conversation. AI’s future is too important to leave to unchecked forces. https://lnkd.in/e2DBWsGu 🔁 Repost if you believe we need responsible, transparent AI laws in every state. #AI #AIGovernance #SB53 #TechPolicy #ResponsibleAI #Innovation #California #FederalPolicy #AIEthics

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Sacramento is transforming from a second-tier economic hub to a vibrant center for high-tech innovation. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council (GSEC), the region is attracting major industry players like Micron Technology, Solidigm, AMD, Samsung Electronics, Qualcomm, Bosch, and, notably, Blaize. Recently, GSEC sponsored a tour showcasing the region’s expanding strength in semiconductor and microelectronics manufacturing. With over 1.2 million jobs across six counties, Sacramento is the fastest-growing semiconductor market in California. The region's proactive approach, innovative companies, and strategic investments are reshaping perceptions and establishing Sacramento as a hub for high-tech growth and economic resilience. As the region continues to build its reputation, I'm proud to be part of the Blaize team and of the broader community driving innovation in AI. I look forward to helping shape a bright future for Sacramento as a leading tech powerhouse. Read "Sacramento area sees path forward with tech jobs" from Matt Hamblen, Editor at Fierce Electronics, where he provides compelling insights from his media tour - https://lnkd.in/g7DFQFs3 #Sacramento #TechInnovation #Semiconductors #AI #EconomicGrowth #Blaize #BZAI #FutureOfTech #Leadership #GSEC

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We just dropped a recap of our SF Urban Autonomy Summit on The Driverless Digest 🚦🤖 Guest author Josie-Dee Li breaks down the event from the perspective of someone in the room — pulling together what speakers across city leadership, AV operators, and infrastructure players are actually grappling with as autonomy starts to scale in real cities. Her key takeaways: ⚖️🌇 Cities and companies operate under different incentives, and autonomy exposes that gap. ⚡️🏗️ Charging and physical infrastructure shape scale more than self-driving vehicle technology alone. 🦺📊 Safety depends on real world data, validation discipline, and transparency. The big takeaway: urban autonomy in 2026 is less about flashy tech and more about operations, incentives, and the unglamorous infrastructure that determines what really works (and what doesn’t).

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What a great example of #airporttech! I like the "...friendly nudge by an officer." Excellent use case of curb management. Thank you Andrew K Kirk and Automotus for your partnership. INRIX #airports #govtech

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FoundersBoost, in collaboration with the Alliance for SoCal Innovation and Hacker Fund, is running the SoCal B2B Accelerator in Glendale. • For: Pre-seed and seed stage B2B technology startups in Southern California with initial customer traction. • Offer: A six-week, no-equity, no-fee accelerator providing one-on-one mentorship, pitch coaching, and strategic guidance. • Program Manager: Audrey Wu, Program Manager – SoCal B2B Accelerator. • Post-program: Qualified alumni gain access to The Alliance for SoCal Innovation’s Venture Pipeline for introductions to VCs. Why it matters: The program provides non-dilutive support for early-stage B2B startups to prepare for investment and revenue generation. More at: https://lnkd.in/eZkXJMNE #Startups #B2B #SoCal #Accelerator #Preseed #Funding

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For decades, the narrative of California’s technological supremacy was localized strictly within the borders of Silicon Valley. However, as the post-pandemic digital economy recalibrates, a significant seismic shift is occurring in Southern California. #AIinnovationinOrangeCounty #AItechnologytrends #CaliforniaAIecosystem #LargeLanguageModels(LLM) #OrangeCountyAIstartups #SaaSInnovation #SiliconBeachSouth #SouthernCaliforniatechhub #UCIrvine(UCI)Wayfinder #VentureCapitalinSoCal

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Here’s a concise summary of the article from Radio Ink: 📉 Summary: San Francisco public media station KQED is initiating another round of layoffs to address a projected $12 million budget deficit, following workforce reductions in 2024 tied to an earlier $8 million shortfall. 🔑 Key Points: Voluntary buyouts were offered to all employees in early June; those not accepted may still face layoffs with equivalent severance. CEO Michael Isip cited rising expenses (+4.7% annually) versus slower revenue growth (+3.2%), along with the lack of a sustainable digital membership model, and decreased corporate/grant funding. The workforce reduction is expected to finish by mid-summer 2025. 2024 cuts included 34 eliminated roles (19 layoffs, 11 voluntary/early retirements, 4 unfilled), affecting multiple departments from broadcasting to sponsorship. Previous cost-saving efforts also included automating overnight radio operations and closing the San Jose satellite office. KQED is one of two public broadcasters announcing layoffs this week—the other being Wisconsin Public Broadcasting, which cut 15 staff and ended three syndicated shows. If anyone from #KQED see this post, you can use my network to see if anyone can help you move forward in you career. Here is the article link and let me know your thoughts. #KQED #Public #Radio #Layoffs #BayArea #SanFrancisco #BudgetIssues Article Link - https://lnkd.in/gbKjjhfX

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