if something goes horribly wrong, oh well, at least no time was wasted on testing, right?

Dear lord.

On second thought, though, the decision is more about CA minding businesses, and letting the federal government legislate AI because of its national and global impact. Which is actually a better, at scale way to handle AI.

While competition is good in some economic arenas, AI is an extraction industry. It's much like mining and fossil fuel industries,, and as such, there doesn't need to be anti-monopolistic competition around such a global power; there needs to be tight regulation of that power.
AI cannot be allowed to take over as the "brain" of the global Internet nervous system. And it's only big scale federal government power like the US that can make sure this is still a country that is run of, by and for The Humans. The EU, which has been way ahead of the US in regulating global platforms (ask Elon) in the public interest, would agree.

This would drive companies and innovation out of California. The cost to follow these rules would allow only the very wealthy to develop AI wiping out small and mid-sized innovation.

It is regulation to shrink the playing field and create monopolies.

I need to come into the now. When I see "AI" my eyes glaze over and I don't have the intestinal fortitude to learn the details. Putting on the to-do list. I need the "AI for Dummies" book.

He keeps vetoing good bills.

Has he turned to the dark side?

He doesn't seem bogus or naive enough to change direction in the interest of the presidency. He is who he is and does he actually think he can change that image? I need a good longitudinal analysis of him to quench my curiosity.

All the AI stuff, everywhere, really bothers me.

I feel for all the actors and artists put out of work.

it's usually pretty solid...and progressive in terms of achieving goals in the long run...a pragmatist he is...

(Sci-fi has this weird ability to predict things when it comes to technology. It is more accurate that we sometimes want to believe. You can scoff if you want. I am sure that people scoffed when they were told that machines could do factory work as well if not better than humans can. Let's go ask those laid off folks what they think about how ridiculous that idea sounded at the time.)

From Stephen Hawking, "The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race." "It would take off on it's own, and re-design itself at an ever increasing rate." "Humans, who are limited by slow biological evolution, couldn't complete, and would be superseded."
To quote from a video game, " the cake is a lie."
Novacene: The Coming Age of Hyperintelligence by James Lovelock is an insightful read.
Now there is research pointing out that AI tweaks to photos and videos can alter memories. It causes people to misremember what they have seen.

So yes it does need strict regulations. And Newsome is trying to curry favor.

rather than drive it away to states that are far less regulated.

This is to gain support from tech bros because I think, he wants to be president and he needs their financial support. He has been vetoing his own parties bills. He wanted to run for president and that was why he was one of the loudest voices to remove Biden.
But my point is that is has to have strict controls. Seems like this issue is flying under radar and probably the biggest threat of all.

JMHO, state laws and regulations have their place, but something as far reaching as AI probably needs regulation on a national level.