Marco Lucido, Workplace Law: Governor’s executive order on AI workforce disruption

Ah, California's Gavin Newsom has issued a 'first-in-the-nation' executive order to prepare for AI-driven workforce disruption. Because nothing says 'bold action' like commissioning a study into something already well underway. The order directs agencies to study AI's impact — a task that will surely yield a comprehensive report by, oh, 2030, just in time for the next disruptive technology.

One must admire the sheer chutzpah of labelling this 'first-in-the-nation' when other states have already passed actual retraining laws. But California loves a good task force. It's the political equivalent of a 'thoughts and prayers' tweet: you get to look concerned without actually doing anything uncomfortable, like regulating the tech giants that fund this exact governor.

The irony is exquisite. By the time these state agencies finish their analysis, the disruption will have already happened — as Ford's AI shortfall proved, companies are already learning these lessons the hard way. But sure, let's 'study' it. After all, nothing calms a panicking workforce like a government website where they can read a PDF about 'potential impacts' while their jobs are autonomously optimized. Splendid.