Governor Kathy Hochul has announced a new artificial intelligence (AI) training pilot program aimed at New York State employees. The initiative is the first step in a broader plan to equip thousands of state workers with the skills needed to use AI responsibly.
“From the moment we first announced Empire AI, I vowed to put New York State at the forefront of the AI revolution and to ensure that our journey forward was safe, responsible and thoughtful,” Governor Hochul said. “I appreciate ITS leadership for their work and look forward to reviewing the results and hearing ideas from our talented workforce about how we can innovate to better serve New Yorkers.”
The training is being offered through a partnership with InnovateUS, an online platform providing government training nationwide. The two-part program is tailored specifically for public sector employees in New York.
Alongside the training, state employees will have access to ITS AI Pro, a generative AI tool developed by the New York State Office of Information Technology Services (ITS) and powered by Google Gemini. This tool provides a secure environment for staff to practice their AI skills and explore potential applications within state agencies.
New York State Chief Information Officer Dru Rai stated, “Governor Hochul is providing the leadership and the vision to make New York State a national leader in leveraging this powerful and ever-changing technology, allowing us to create efficiencies that help agencies better serve the public. This is an exciting moment on this journey — responsible AI will bring us limitless possibilities to enact positive change to the way our government operates and serves New Yorkers, all while giving our hardworking employees an opportunity to build and grow their own skills for the future.”
The pilot program includes volunteer participants from various state agencies covering health, human services, public safety, operations, and infrastructure. Insights from this pilot are expected to inform further adoption of AI across state government. The program is scheduled to finish by year’s end.
Google’s Public Affairs Manager MJ Henshaw commented, “Equipping New York State employees with both the skills and tools to use AI responsibly is critical to unlocking the potential of this technology to drive efficiency, enabling public servants to better serve their constituents. ITS AI Pro, powered by Gemini, underscores Google’s commitment to supporting New York State’s digital transformation, and we applaud Governor Hochul’s focus on setting an example for the ways that government can embrace technology to build a better future.”
InnovateUS Director Beth Noveck said: “With the expansion of artificial intelligence’s capabilities, it is essential that everyone, including governments, are equipped with the knowledge to use these technologies safely. We are thrilled to be partnering with New York State and are grateful to Governor Hochul for the opportunity.”
Assemblymember Steve Otis added: “This announcement provides the latest example of New York’s recognition that responsible AI use by state agencies needs to come with training and a focus on quality control. Governor Hochul and our NYS Office of Information Technology Services (ITS) understand that New York’s success in AI will continue to depend upon training and careful use of AI tools. The same lesson should be followed by private companies choosing to bring AI systems to the workplace. This pilot program is an example of the state leading by example. Careful and wise use of AI is an ongoing priority of our Assembly Science and Technology Committee and our partners in the Senate. The Governor’s announcement is good news on a rapidly evolving technology issue.”
Assemblymember Alex Bores said: “Throughout her term, Governor Hochul has been the most consistently thoughtful and proactive Governor in the country on AI policy, and the AI Training Pilot Program is no exception. AI is here to stay and we should use it to help state agencies, not replace workers. Making sure that public employees are trained in AI will improve both their experience and the quality of services we provide to New Yorkers.”
The pilot builds on other efforts led by Governor Hochul under her innovation agenda. Initiatives include launching Empire AI—a $500 million collaboration between leading universities intended for advanced computing research—and forming an Emerging Technology Advisory Board co-chaired by leaders from IBM https://www.ibm.com/ as well as Girls Who Code https://girlswhocode.com/. These actions aim at making New York a center for technological growth.
Additionally, policies have been established guiding acceptable uses for artificial intelligence across state agencies so they may implement new technologies safely while improving efficiency.
Recent large-scale investments such as GlobalFoundries’ $11.6 billion chip manufacturing expansion in upstate regions https://gf.com/stories/globalfoundries-announces-expansion-in-new-york promise significant job creation alongside Micron’s planned $100 billion investment over 20 years https://www.micron.com/NewYork. These projects reflect continued momentum toward positioning New York as a leader in tech-driven economic development.
