GOVERNOR HOCHUL HIGHLIGHTS NEXT STEPS IN NATION-LEADING COMMISSION TO ADDRESS IMPACTS OF AI ON NEW YORK’S WORKFORCE
Governor Convenes Meeting of Her FutureWorks Commission Following Statewide Listening Sessions and Engagement with Impacted Workers
Commission Will Deliver Recommendations By End of December for New Policies to Protect New Yorkers and Help Workers Share in the Benefits of AI
Part of Comprehensive Approach Including Nation-Leading AI Safety Laws and Moratorium on Data Center Construction
Governor Kathy Hochul convened a meeting of her nation-leading FutureWorks Commission, as it prepares recommendations that will shape policies to protect workers across New York amid the major impacts of AI on the American workforce.
At the Governor’s direction, the Commission has conducted listening sessions and other engagement with impacted workers, Union leaders, stakeholders and experts in recent weeks. The Commission will now use its findings to deliver specific recommendations by the end of December, which the Governor and her administration will use to shape new policies addressing the workforce impacts of AI.
The FutureWorks Commission is part of the Governor’s comprehensive approach to addressing the full scope of AI impacts on New Yorkers — including the nation-leading RAISE Act to strengthen AI safety regulations and a first-in-the-nation moratorium on hyperscale data center construction across the state.
“AI is already having significant impacts throughout society – and New York will continue leading the nation with policies that protect our workers, communities and safety, while also helping everyday people harness the benefits of innovation,” Governor Hochul said. “As the Trump Administration and Washington Republicans fail to step up on this critical issue, my administration will keep taking the action needed to ensure that when it comes to AI, we’re putting New Yorkers first.”
Governor Hochul and the FutureWorks commission discussed policy proposals developed through conversations with Commission members and interviews with external experts, New York unions, workers, and other stakeholders representing jobs and industries impacted by AI. These policy ideas center around data and forecasting, job training and placement, improving job quality, strengthening the social safety net, economic growth and supporting small businesses in New York.
Last month, Governor Hochul held a listening session that included several women in jobs that have the potential to be or are already being reshaped by AI. Some experts predict that AI could impact or shift tasks in administrative, clerical, customer service and similar roles that have historically been a pathway to the middle class.
Nation-Leading RAISE Act to Bolster AI Safety
Today’s discussion complements the Governor’s nation-leading AI safety law, the Responsible AI Safety and Education (RAISE) Act. Starting in November, New York will direct large frontier AI developers to register with the State and prepare for compliance with strict requirements on transparency, safety, and incident reporting as prescribed by the RAISE Act. Those strict standards require large frontier AI developers to report critical safety incidents within 72 hours. Beginning in January 2027, AI companies will be required to comply with those strict standards and provide regular reporting to the state’s new Office of Digital Innovation, Governance, Integrity and Trust (DIGIT) established within the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS).
The Governor also emphasized that, in the coming months, she will be exploring ways to build on the RAISE Act as part of ongoing efforts to further strengthen New York’s nation-leading AI safety laws and regulations.
Moratorium on Data Center Construction to Protect Communities
Earlier this year, Governor Hochul signed an Executive Order to create the nation’s first moratorium on new hyperscale data centers, establishing the strongest standards for data center development and creating a blueprint to support localities. The Governor has temporarily paused discretionary State environmental permits for up to one year in order to build a nation-leading regulatory framework that protects ratepayers, the environment, the energy grid and communities across the state.
Additionally, Governor Hochul announced the completion of the Community Investment Framework, providing local governments with critical guidance for any future negotiations with major tech companies and developers, a powerful tool to ensure communities are protected from exploitative data center projects and get the benefits they deserve.
Assemblymember Steve Otis said, “With technological change moving at a quick pace, Governor Hochul has been a leader in efforts to take the time to develop thoughtful AI policies. The Empire AI Consortium to use AI for public good, our AI governance measures, and the data center moratorium are all initiatives to carefully establish policies and goals. Guidance on workforce issues will be important as AI rollout continues to grow. The Assembly has held several hearings on the topic, and the recommendations from the commission will move us towards adopting needed workforce policies.”
Governor Hochul’s Innovation Agenda
Governor Hochul’s commitment to advancing New York’s leadership in artificial intelligence builds on her broader agenda to expand cutting-edge technology development in the Empire State. Governor Hochul launched the historic Empire AI initiative, a $500 million partnership of New York’s leading public and private universities who have come together to establish a state-of-the-art AI computing center at SUNY’s University at Buffalo. Empire AI is already facilitating statewide innovation, research, and development of AI technologies, and operates the most advanced academic supercomputer in the nation.
Governor Hochul has also launched a series of initiatives to prepare New York for an AI-enabled future, including training students for AI-enabled jobs, funding NY-based AI startups, supporting small businesses with AI adoption and tracking the potential impact of new technologies on the workforce. These initiatives were the result of recommendations from the inaugural Emerging Technology Advisory Board — an independent group of industry leaders co-chaired by IBM CEO Arvind Krishna and Girls Who Code CEO Dr. Tarika Barrett. The Board released their recommendations in December 2024.
At the Governor’s direction, New York State government is also leading by example. New York is the largest state in the nation to expand responsible AI training and tools to the entire state workforce of more than 100,000 employees. ITS wrote and issued the first-ever statewide policy on the Acceptable Use of AI Technologies, and has since issued new governance guidance which serve as a roadmap for state agencies to adopt AI thoughtfully, safely and responsibly, while optimizing efficiencies and delivering quicker and better results for their constituents.