New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday launched a state research institute to evaluate artificial intelligence, and a new state office opened a registration portal for developers to comply with safety regulations.
The New York Center for AI Responsibility and Research, based at Binghamton University, will independently test advanced artificial intelligence systems for safety and security. The initiative is intended to hold technology companies accountable and protect residents, the governor’s office said.
“The stakes are too high to simply take AI companies at their word,” Hochul said.
The Office of Digital Innovation, Governance, Integrity, and Trust, or DIGIT, launched the online portal to implement the state’s RAISE Act. Under the law, large frontier developers must register through the portal by Jan. 1, 2027. Beginning in January, large developers must also publish safety frameworks on their websites.
The law sets different transparency requirements depending on the size of the company. While only large developers must publish safety frameworks, all frontier developers operating in New York will be required to publish model transparency reports and report critical safety incidents within 72 hours.
The new research center will gather more than 80 scientists from New York colleges and research institutions. Greg Morrisett of Cornell Tech and Jeannette Wing of Columbia University will serve as interim co-directors. The center will evaluate current systems and develop scientific tools to test increasingly powerful models as the technology evolves.
Funding for the center includes a $30 million philanthropic gift from a group of donors led by Bloomberg LP co-founder Tom Secunda, an initial $25 million research investment from the State University of New York, and state operating capital. The center is also supported by Empire AI, a $500 million public-private initiative.
An early goal for the institute is a nationwide search for specialists in hardware security, mathematical theory, privacy, and biosecurity. Moving forward, the center will coordinate with DIGIT to review developers’ safety frameworks and provide recommendations to strengthen oversight requirements.