New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced on October 22nd the establishment of the Artificial Intelligence Jobs Institute in Long Island City, Queens. The institute aims to train up to 40,000 New York residents by 2032 in AI skills to help them enter AI-related industries.
Operated by the non-profit tech job training organization Pursuit, the project is supported by $3.06 million in funding from Empire State Development to build a new training center in Long Island City. The overall project has received a total of $10 million in public investment.
Hochul stated that AI is rapidly changing the job market, causing concern for many workers about the future. The state government hopes to assist residents in adapting to new technologies through vocational training and securing high-paying job opportunities in the future.
The newly established AI Jobs Institute will offer AI skills training, career transition courses, and job matching services for residents, particularly those from low-income backgrounds who have found it challenging to enter the tech industry.
The institute will also collaborate with businesses and non-profit organizations to develop AI tools and assist small businesses in adopting new technologies. Furthermore, it will research the impact of AI on the job market to provide recommendations for the government to formulate labor policies.
Pursuit, the organization in charge of operations, has long assisted low-wage workers in transitioning to the tech industry. It is also involved in another New York state program called “AI Prep for Jobs,” which is expected to provide AI-related job training for 420 low-income residents statewide.
In addition, the new institute will establish the “New York Global Tech and Innovation Center” to help under-resourced entrepreneurs access funding, corporate partnerships, and international market opportunities, with the goal of nurturing over ten high-growth potential startups in the next five years.
Partners of this initiative include Google.org, OpenAI, Anthropic, and several businesses and charities.
The state government indicated that the AI Jobs Institute will work in conjunction with New York’s FutureWorks Commission to assist New York workers in adapting to the changing job market brought on by artificial intelligence.
The AI Jobs Institute will be located at The JACX building at 28-07 Jackson Avenue in Long Island City, Queens, with a full move-in expected by mid-2027.