Adine Mitrani

The federal government has taken its most significant step yet toward oversight of AI, with President Donald Trump issuing a new executive order (EO) that establishes a voluntary review framework under which developers give the government access to frontier large language models for up to 30 days before releasing them to their trusted partners, and then the general public. It also creates an “AI cybersecurity clearinghouse” to review vulnerabilities.

There’s no shortage of AI content across headlines and timelines, but not all of it feels like real, practical conversation. And that’s exactly why we launched the “Down the Gradient” podcast. We want to have genuine discussions about AI governance and regulation, trust and safety, and what AI-driven investments and exits mean for our clients and connections. Why “Down the Gradient”? The name nods to a core concept in machine learning: following the gradient.

As digital companions become more sophisticated, New York is leading the charge in mandating safety, transparency, and accountability from AI providers. New York’s new imposes specific notice obligations and safeguarding measures on providers of “AI companions” that engage users in personalized, humanlike interactions. The law took effect on November 5, 2025. What Is the New AI Companion Models Law?