New York

With the average cost of breaches on the rise, cybersecurity must be regarded like any other disaster, according to the Local Government Cybersecurity Alliance. Residual costs of incidents must be accounted for, a co-founder said.

As the invasive insect spreads, putting plant populations like grapevines and their related industries at risk, governments at all levels are using technology like drones and GIS to monitor the issue.

The endeavor is intended to train thousands of staffers on AI fundamentals using real-world applications, through a collaboration with InnovateUS. Other state and local governments are engaged in similar training.

Jacob, the state’s former chief digital transformation officer, succeeds longtime executive deputy CIO Jennifer Lorenz. His priorities will include helping provide AI education and training to the state workforce.

The state has set reporting deadlines for local governments, along with rules about ransomware attacks. The move reflects a larger trend as public officials seek to boost their cyber defenses.

A recent report by the New York City-based Center for an Urban Future found that 52 percent of New York high schools offer at least one foundational computer science class, raising questions about future job preparedness.

New funding distributed through the New York School Bus Incentive Program will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis to cover electric buses, charging infrastructure and fleet electrification planning.

The brand-new job went to data and AI expert Shreya Amin earlier this year, but she has departed. The job opening, which has received "promising" applicants, is designed to help the state spark more innovation.

A new cyber grant program and new cybersecurity regulations for water and wastewater systems, announced Tuesday, aim to support water system resilience and protect public health in the state of New York.

New York law will soon require students to have their cellphones turned off at school and stored in a way chosen by their principals. Gov. Kathy Hochul recommended that parents start preparing their kids for this reality.

The new website includes a policy FAQ, toolkit and examples that school districts can use to design their own policies to restrict personal devices from being used on school grounds during the school day.

New York's mandates to have all new light-duty passenger vehicles be zero-emission by 2035 faces shortfalls in the state's battery charging infrastructure and the electrical grid needed to power it.

A new law covers online ransom attempts, cybersecurity training and other areas. The move comes as the Empire State works to increase its power in artificial intelligence and other digital areas.

The state’s digital ID program, free and voluntary, continues to grow as more airports and bars accept those forms of identification. Other states are expanding their own mobile ID programs.

With hundreds of millions of state and federal dollars pouring into regional training programs for the semiconductor industry, colleges are placing students right after graduation, and local high schools are buying in, too.

The state’s comptroller blames the problem on New York’s homeland security agency, and urges it to provide more guidance. NG911 is among the main drivers of the public safety technology industry.

The latest in a series of text message schemes, this one messages residents’ cellphones seeking information. The state’s Department of Motor Vehicles commissioner said the agency does not ask for personal data over the phone.

The original public/private investment into Empire AI was $400 million, and Gov. Kathy Hochul has added to that in the 2025-26 budget to support an increase in AI and AI-related academic programs.