New York initiates AI training for state workers

Published Date : 9/10/2025 

Governor Kathy Hochul announces a groundbreaking AI training pilot program for 1,000 New York State employees, in partnership with InnovateUS and Google Gemini, to enhance responsible AI use. 

Governor Kathy Hochul has unveiled an artificial intelligence (AI) training pilot program tailored for the New York State workforce. This initiative marks the initial step in fulfilling a significant 2025 State of the State pledge to equip tens of thousands of state employees with the knowledge and skills to leverage AI responsibly.

“From the moment we first announced Empire AI, I vowed to position New York State at the forefront of the AI revolution, ensuring our journey is safe, responsible, and thoughtful,” Governor Hochul stated. “I appreciate the leadership of the Office of Information Technology Services (ITS) and look forward to reviewing the results and hearing ideas from our talented workforce on how we can innovate to better serve New Yorkers.”

The AI training program is a collaborative effort with InnovateUS, an online platform managed by a coalition of public sector learning and innovation leaders. This platform provides training for over 150 government agencies across the United States. The training is designed to educate New York State employees about the responsible use of AI in their roles as public sector employees.

Complementing the training is the 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 will offer state employees a secure environment to refine their AI skills and explore how AI can assist agencies in problem-solving.

“Governor Hochul is providing the leadership and vision to make New York State a national leader in leveraging this powerful and ever-changing technology,” said Dru Rai, New York State Chief Information Officer and Director of ITS. “This is an exciting moment on this journey — responsible AI will bring us limitless possibilities to enact positive change in how 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 involves a diverse group of volunteer users from various state agencies, including health, human services, public safety, state operations, and infrastructure. The program aims to gather insights and experiential learnings to guide the next phase of AI adoption within New York State government. The pilot is scheduled to conclude by the end of the year.

“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 and enable public servants to better serve their constituents,” said MJ Henshaw, Google New York Public Affairs Manager. “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.”

Beth Noveck, Director of InnovateUS, added, “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 highlighted the importance of the program, stating, “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 also praised the initiative, saying, “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.”

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. She launched the historic Empire AI initiative, a $500 million partnership of New York’s leading public and private universities, 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.

Last year, Governor Hochul launched 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 initial recommendations in December 2024, outlining a vision to elevate New York’s leadership in AI.

The AI Training Pilot is part of a series of initiatives announced as part of the Governor’s State of the State this year to ensure equitable growth of the AI industry in New York. These initiatives include training students for AI-enabled jobs, funding NY AI startups, supporting small businesses with AI adoption, and tracking the potential impact of new technologies on the workforce.

At the Governor’s direction, ITS wrote and issued the first-ever statewide policy on the Acceptable Use of AI Technologies, which now serves 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.

The Governor’s innovation agenda has catalyzed major public and private investments, transforming New York’s economy and creating good-paying jobs of the future. GlobalFoundries recently announced an $11.6 billion investment to expand its chip manufacturing campus in New York’s Capital Region, creating 1,500 direct jobs and thousands of indirect jobs. In 2022, Micron announced a 20-year, $100 billion investment to create a megafab campus in Central New York, creating 50,000 new direct and indirect jobs and unlocking hundreds of millions of dollars in community benefits. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS): 

Q: What is the AI Training Pilot Program?

A: The AI Training Pilot Program is a new initiative by Governor Kathy Hochul to provide New York State employees with training and tools to use artificial intelligence (AI) responsibly. The program is designed to enhance the skills of state employees and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of government services.

Q: Who is providing the training and tools for this program?

A: The training is provided by InnovateUS, an online platform managed by a coalition of public sector learning and innovation leaders. The AI Pro generative AI tool, developed by the New York State Office of Information Technology Services (ITS) and powered by Google Gemini, will also be used to support the training.

Q: What are the goals of the AI Training Pilot Program?

A: The goals of the program include equipping state employees with the knowledge to use AI responsibly, enhancing the efficiency of government operations, and improving the quality of services provided to New Yorkers. The program also aims to gather insights and experiential learnings to guide future AI adoption in the state.

Q: When will the pilot program conclude?

A: The AI Training Pilot Program is scheduled to conclude by the end of the year. The results and feedback from the pilot will be used to inform the next phase of AI adoption within New York State government.

Q: What other initiatives are part of Governor Hochul's innovation agenda?

A: Governor Hochul's innovation agenda includes the Empire AI initiative, the creation of the Emerging Technology Advisory Board, training students for AI-enabled jobs, funding NY AI startups, supporting small businesses with AI adoption, and tracking the potential impact of new technologies on the workforce. These initiatives aim to ensure equitable growth of the AI industry in New York. 

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