Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Apr. 6 the expansion of artificial intelligence education and training to all New York State employees, fulfilling a pledge made in her 2025 State of the State address. The initiative will provide more than 100,000 state workers with resources to use AI responsibly in their roles, making New York the largest state in the country to offer secure access to this technology across its workforce.
The program aims to help public employees use AI tools safely and effectively, improving government services for residents. Governor Hochul said, “We are putting New York at the forefront of the AI revolution, ensuring that the journey forward is safe and responsible. I’m excited to fulfill our vision of embracing innovation, upskilling our employees and better serving New Yorkers.”
This expansion builds on a recent pilot program managed by the Office of Information Technology Services (ITS), which provided AI training and access to an assistant tool called AI Pro for over 1,200 users across eight state agencies. According to results from this pilot, most participants reported time savings using AI Pro; many also said their understanding of AI improved after completing the program.
The training is offered through InnovateUS, an online platform focused on public sector learning. Beth Noveck, founder of InnovateUS said, “By equipping its workforce with practical AI and digital skills through InnovateUS, New York will be positioned to deliver better, more efficient and responsive services for its residents.” The generative assistant tool used in this effort was developed by ITS using Google Gemini technology.
State Chief Information Officer Dru Rai said that Governor Hochul has been “a national leader without peer when it comes to leveraging technology,” adding that responsible use of AI can bring “limitless possibilities” while helping staff grow their skills for future needs. Elizabeth Moon from Google Public Sector noted that giving employees both skills and tools is critical “to unlocking this technology’s potential.” Assemblymember Steve Otis commented that providing such programs supports quality control protections essential for responsible use.
The broader innovation agenda includes major investments like Empire AI—a $500 million partnership among universities—and private sector commitments such as GlobalFoundries’ $11.6 billion chip manufacturing expansion and Micron’s planned $100 billion megafab campus in Central New York. Recent policies include statewide guidelines on acceptable uses of AI technologies as well as new commissions aimed at tracking economic impacts on workers.
As these initiatives continue rolling out across agencies—supported by ongoing training requirements—the state expects further improvements in service delivery while maintaining oversight over emerging technologies.
