During the next several months, 1,000 state employees will participate in an AI training program announced Thursday by Gov. Kathy Hochul — one designed to function as both a classroom and a laboratory, where structured lessons and hands-on experimentation introduce staff to the practical use of AI in their daily work.
The pilot is being led by the New York State Office of Information Technology Services (ITS) in partnership with InnovateUS, a public-sector learning platform used by many government agencies. The collaboration connects the state to a growing movement of governments embracing AI education.
San Francisco has offered thousands of city workers access to AI learning modules through the same platform, while New Jersey recently expanded its own statewide AI training efforts using InnovateUS for specialized courses. Indianapolis is using the company’s content to teach government staff about ethical AI use, and the National Association of Counties has launched its own AI Leadership Academy to prepare local leaders for the technology’s expanding role in governance.
New York’s training is structured in two phases. The first focuses on foundational knowledge and the ethical considerations of AI. In contrast, the second provides hands-on experience in ITS AI Pro, developed by the New York ITS and powered by Google Gemini. The program is scheduled to run through the end of the year, with insights from participants intended to inform the state’s broader approach to AI adoption and workforce development.
The pilot program is just one component of the governor’s broader initiative to expand AI across New York, which includes preparing students for AI-related careers, supporting local startups, helping small businesses adopt AI, and examining how these technologies are transforming the workforce. Alongside these efforts, Empire AI — a $500 million program uniting public and private universities — is establishing an AI computing center at the State University of New York’s University at Buffalo to drive research, development and innovation statewide.
Hochul framed the AI training pilot as part of New York’s broader technological push, in a statement, noting that since the launch of Empire AI, she has aimed to position the state “at the forefront of the AI revolution” while ensuring the approach remains “safe, responsible and thoughtful.”
For Dru Rai, state CIO and ITS director, the program represents a real-world application of that strategy.
“Responsible AI will bring us limitless possibilities to enact positive change to the way 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,” he said in a statement.
