The state will give local governments and operators in energy, water, and transportation access to AI-assisted cyber defense capabilities.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom directed his administration to establish an AI cyber defense program within the California Cybersecurity Integration Center (Cal-CSIC). The program will use AI to find security weaknesses, strengthen networks, and help respond to cyberattacks.
The program is intended to support state agencies and expand advanced cybersecurity capabilities to local governments and critical infrastructure operators.
New Program Adds AI to California’s Existing Cyber Support
Cal-CSIC already shares information about cyber threats and coordinates incident response with state and local agencies, utilities, and other public and private organizations.
The new program will add AI-assisted cybersecurity defenses, including vulnerability detection, network protection, and incident response, to that work.
Newsom also directed Cal-CSIC to expand access for local governments and critical infrastructure operators to advanced state cybersecurity capabilities, including AI-assisted defenses. The announcement names water, power, transportation, and emergency communications among the services the directive is intended to protect.
Caroline Thomas Jacobs, Director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, said, “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.”
Separately, every state agency must appoint an AI Cybersecurity Officer. The announcement does not specify the scope of responsibility of these newly created roles.
The new actions build on Cal-Secure 2.0, California’s existing cybersecurity roadmap for state agencies. That roadmap calls for greater use of AI-enabled security tools and stronger coordination across state government.
