On November 10, the Governor of New York, Kathy Hochul, announced the establishment of the New York Center for AI Responsibility and Research at Binghamton University. This new center aims to bring together more than 80 researchers from across the state to independently assess the safety of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems. In conjunction with this initiative, the state government is launching a new business registration platform, requiring major AI developers at the forefront of technology to register by January 1, 2027, and to comply with established safety and transparency regulations.
“In the absence of federal action, New York is taking the lead in AI safety efforts and holding big tech companies accountable,” Governor Hochul stated. “This is a critical issue. We cannot simply take the word of AI companies; we must utilize the top research talent in the state and the computational power of Empire AI to independently test these powerful AI systems, understand their risks, and protect the residents of New York.”
The new research center will be co-directed by Greg Morrisett, the Dean of Cornell Tech, and Jeannette Wing, the Vice President for Research at Columbia University. Together, they will coordinate more than 80 experts from various universities and research institutions throughout New York State to focus on AI safety, cybersecurity, and computer science. The center will leverage the $500 million allocated by the state for the public-private partnership, Empire AI, to test cutting-edge AI models, develop safety assessment methods, and train the next generation of AI safety experts.
Tom Secunda, the Chairman of the Empire AI Board and co-founder of Bloomberg, expressed at a press conference that New York is well poised to tackle one of today’s most significant challenges—ensuring that the world’s most powerful AI systems are safe, reliable, and built on rigorous scientific foundations.
This research initiative will also align with regulatory efforts by the state government. According to the New York State Responsible AI Safety and Education Act (RAISE Act), major advanced AI developers are required to register with the state and disclose their safety frameworks. All developers governed by this legislation must provide transparency reports on their models and notify authorities within 72 hours following any significant safety incidents.
The state’s newly established Office of Digital Innovation, Governance, Integrity, and Trust (DIGIT) has already opened the registration platform for these developers.
Furthermore, AI regulation may see additional tightening in the near future. Reports indicate that State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Jordan Wright have proposed RAISE Act 2.0, which aims to expand regulatory authority. This might include requirements for independent assessments of AI models and allowing state officials to limit corporate access to computational resources in specific circumstances.
New York Attorney General Letitia James has previously urged employees aware of safety risks or illegal activities within AI companies to come forward through the AG’s confidential reporting platform.
As the RAISE Act is set to take effect in January next year, New York is progressively establishing a comprehensive AI regulatory framework that encompasses academic testing, corporate disclosure, and governmental enforcement. This initiative reflects a significant move towards enhancing the safety and accountability of AI technologies in the state and beyond.