Potential Democratic presidential candidates are moving quickly to show they take AI risks seriously.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order on Friday.

It speeds up a California law that requires independent oversight of AI companies.

The law also requires "kill switches" so developers can shut down their systems.

Newsom said on his podcast that California will do what it can.

However, he said Washington needs to do its job.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro gave a speech a day earlier about steps he is taking locally.

He also said states have clear limits in regulating a global technology.

AI leaders, including Dario Amodei, Sam Altman and Elon Musk, have warned of catastrophic risks.

President Trump has dismissed the warnings as a "HOAX."

He said he is the only control AI needs.

Democrats are responding with speeches and legislation.

Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff said a capable president would secure the country and push for an AI treaty.

Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly told Politico he will introduce a bill to create a fund.

AI companies would pay into this fund to help displaced workers.

Shapiro called for federal rules on third-party oversight and transparency.

Polling shows a growing divide.

A June Pew Research Center poll found Democrats are more likely than Republicans to be "more concerned than excited" about AI.

About half of U.S. adults say the same.

About 7 in 10 U.S. adults think AI will cause job losses in the next 20 years.

That is up 7 percentage points since 2024.