Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said California struck a new deal with the artificial intelligence company Anthropic that will give state agencies access to its Claude assistant, along with training and technical support to improve how government services are delivered.

The state said Claude will be used for tasks such as drafting and condensing documents, reviewing information, and supporting day-to-day operations. The governor’s office explained that agencies can purchase Claude at half price and receive free workforce training plus help from Anthropic specialists on how to integrate generative AI into workflows.

Don’t Miss:

Newsom framed the initiative as a way to speed up government work without displacing public employees, saying, “AI should not replace the human work of government; it should help our workers move faster, solve problems more effectively, and deliver better results for Californians.”

Anthropic’s Kate Jensen, the company’s head of the Americas, said the company sees the project as a home-state responsibility and added, “We’re honored to expand our partnership with California’s agencies and to put Claude to work for the people who keep this state running.” Jensen also said, “Building AI responsibly and in service of people has been our approach from the start, and that’s exactly what this partnership puts into practice.”

Government Operations Agency Secretary Nick Maduros said employees need access to modern tools, adding, “To do that, we need to make sure our teams have access to the best modern tools, including Claude and other emerging technologies.”

California has already tested Claude in several areas, including work tied to Engaged California and an internal tool called Poppy, according to Gov. The state also said the California Department of Technology and CalOES are using Claude Security and Claude Code for cyber defense tasks, while the DMV and the Department of Health Care Services are applying Claude to customer service and internal processes.

Trending: Avoid the #1 Investing Mistake: How Your ‘Safe’ Holdings Could Be Costing You Big Time

The state said Claude will be available to agencies through the California Department of Technology’s SITeS portal, which is intended to centralize procurement and show pricing tied to specific business uses. California State Chief Information Officer Chris Given said the portal is meant to streamline purchases and reduce friction for departments seeking new software, stating, “CDT is partnering with departments across the state to leverage the state’s purchasing power to make it easy to procure new tools, fast and for the best price.”

The announcement also ties into Newsom’s broader push on government efficiency and AI policy, including executive orders and workforce-focused initiatives described by the state.

The governor’s office pointed to prior steps such as statewide guidelines for public-sector AI use, training programs for employees, and legislation around transparency for advanced AI systems.

Photo: Shutterstock

Read Next: 

Building Wealth Across More Than Just the Market

Building a resilient portfolio means thinking beyond a single asset or market trend. Economic cycles shift, sectors rise and fall, and no one investment performs well in every environment. That’s why many investors look to diversify with platforms that provide access to real estate, fixed-income opportunities, precious metals, and even self-directed retirement accounts. By spreading exposure across multiple asset classes, it becomes easier to manage risk, capture steady returns, and create long-term wealth that isn’t tied to the fortunes of just one company or industry.

Arrived

Backed by Jeff Bezos, Arrived Homes makes real estate investing accessible with a low barrier to entry. Investors can buy fractional shares of single-family rentals and vacation homes starting with as little as $100. This allows everyday investors to diversify into real estate, collect rental income, and build long-term wealth without needing to manage properties directly.

FarmTogether

Farmland has historically held its value through market volatility and delivered returns uncorrelated to stocks and bonds. For accredited investors, FarmTogether offers direct access to high-quality U.S. farmland starting at $15,000 — fully managed, with no landlord headaches.

Fundrise

Private real estate and private credit can add income and stability to a stock-heavy portfolio. Fundrise offers access to diversified private real estate and credit strategies through an easy-to-use platform, with professionally managed portfolios designed to generate passive income and long-term growth.

Realberry

Institutional-quality real estate has traditionally been difficult for individual investors to access. Realberry gives accredited investors direct access to private real estate opportunities backed by a team with 35 years of experience, $3.4 billion in assets under management, and $481 million in cumulative distributions paid to investors as of Q4 2025, according to the company. With a portfolio spanning 13 million square feet across seven U.S. states, Realberry focuses on acquiring, developing, and managing real estate with an emphasis on long-term value creation while its principals often invest alongside clients to help align interests.

Immersed

Immersed is building technology for the future of work through spatial computing. Known for its AR/VR productivity platform that enables users to work across multiple virtual screens, the company has grown to more than 1.5 million users worldwide. Immersed is also developing Visor, a lightweight headset designed specifically for professional productivity, positioning the company at the intersection of remote work, extended reality (XR), and next-generation computing.

BluSky AI

The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence is creating significant demand for data centers, power, and compute infrastructure. BluSky AI is building modular AI data centers designed to support next-generation AI workloads while aiming to reduce deployment timelines compared to traditional facilities. For investors looking beyond AI software and applications, the company offers exposure to the infrastructure layer that makes artificial intelligence possible.

ARK7

Residential real estate has historically provided investors with income potential and long-term appreciation, but direct ownership can be expensive and time-consuming. ARK7 enables investors to buy fractional shares of rental properties, offering access to potential rental income and real estate exposure without property management responsibilities. By lowering the barrier to entry, the platform gives investors another way to diversify beyond traditional stocks and bonds.

Miso Robotics

Robotics and automation are becoming increasingly important tools for businesses facing labor shortages and rising operating costs. Miso Robotics develops AI-powered kitchen technology that is already being deployed in restaurant environments, with products designed to help operators improve efficiency and streamline operations. As artificial intelligence expands beyond software and into real-world applications, the company is positioning itself at the intersection of robotics, automation and the future of food service.

Vinovest

Fine wine and rare whiskey have historically moved independently of the stock market, making them a compelling alternative asset. Vinovest manages authenticated, insured portfolios of investment-grade wine and whiskey starting at $5,000 — sourcing, storage, and insurance all handled for you.

EquityMultiple

For accredited investors looking beyond stocks and bonds, EquityMultiple provides access to vetted commercial real estate deals starting at $5,000, with only ~5% of opportunities passing their due diligence process.

Mode Mobile

Mode Mobile is changing the way people interact with their phones by letting users earn money from the same apps and activities they already use every day. Instead of platforms keeping all the advertising revenue, Mode Mobile shares a portion back with users who engage with content, play games, and scroll on their devices. Named one of Deloitte’s fastest-growing software companies in North America, the company has built a large beta user base and is scaling a model that turns everyday smartphone usage into a potential income stream.

© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.