Senator McNerney Will Present AI Safety Plans at the UN
The California senator will discuss AI safety risk frameworks and oversight protocols at the 81st UN General Assembly.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
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Senator Jerry McNerney will address the United Nations on September 24, 2026, to discuss artificial intelligence safety risks and international coordination. He will also participate in a prior panel on September 23 to evaluate safety best practices.
Why it matters
The events aim to foster multilateral agreements for secure AI development as concerns grow over existing constraints. McNerney advocates for targeted moratoria on systems that currently lack safety oversight.
Senator McNerney authored SB 813, which provides a framework for third-party AI safety assessments, and SB 947, which mandates human oversight for workplace AI systems.
The players
Jerry McNerney
He is a California state senator and former member of the U.S. House of Representatives who previously chaired the Congressional Artificial Intelligence Caucus.
Gavin Newsom
He is the Governor of California who recently signed an executive order to accelerate the implementation of state AI safety regulations.
The details
McNerney will speak to heads of state and international diplomats at the UN General Assembly event titled Governing at the Speed of AI: High-Level International Coordination for Crisis Preparedness. The sessions will be livestreamed for global access to the discussion on emerging technology standards.
Timeline
September 18, 2026: Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order to expedite SB 813.
September 23, 2026: Senator McNerney will participate in a UN panel on evaluating AI safety risks.
September 24, 2026: Senator McNerney will address the UN regarding AI safety risks.
The Tech Race
The push for international AI coordination aligns with California's legislative efforts to standardize safety assessments through SB 813. This signals a transition from reactive local policy toward proactive global safety benchmarks for generative AI.
The pending No Robo Bosses Act could shift workplace dynamics by requiring human oversight of AI tools, potentially changing how Californians interact with automated systems on the job. Residents may see faster adoption of safety-certified technology as state executive orders accelerate compliance.
The takeaway
Legislators are increasingly linking local state-level AI mandates to broader international diplomatic initiatives. This approach suggests a future where workplace technology regulations may soon follow a standardized global framework.
Further reading
For more on evolving safety protocols, visit the Artificial Intelligence section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Manteca Bulletin.
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