Albany Agenda
Politics
Meta AI falsely claims lawmakers were accused of sexual harassment
The new AI chatbot in Facebook Messenger provides detailed information about the sexual harassment allegations against state legislators. The only problem: none of it is true.
Albany Agenda
Politics
Bill drafting system hacked as lawmakers hash out late budget
The cyber attack occurred early Wednesday morning.
Opinion
Opinion
Opinion: A real plan for Empire AI
New York’s AI initiative needs strong labor standards and ethical guardrails.
Opinion
Opinion
Opinion: Training the next generation of cyber experts
In an age of cyber threats, investing in our cybersecurity workforce is crucial to our national security.
Policy
Policy
Company behind gun detection tech previewed in subway faces multiple lawsuits and federal investigations
Evolv, whose weapons detection scanners were recently demonstrated by Mayor Eric Adams, is being investigated by the SEC and the FTC for allegedly making misleading statements about what its technology can do.
Technology
Personality
Likely AI books about New York politicians are flooding Amazon
Insiders may not learn much, since the books range from largely inaccurate to complete gibberish.
Personality
Personality
New York’s lofty goal for digitization: “Simple, seamless and straightforward”
Government leaders gathered at City and State’s 2024 Digital New York Summit to discuss ways of modernizing digital infrastructures in government.
News & Politics
Politics
The Adams administration quietly hired its first AI czar. Who is he?
Jiahao Chen, who led AI initiatives at JPMorgan Chase and Capital One, is the city’s new director of AI and machine learning.
Albany Agenda
Policy
Legislation seeks to ban fast food surge pricing
A bill introduced by Assembly Member Angelo Santabarbara came as Wendy’s announced it was launching a “dynamic pricing” plan
Policy
Policy
Parents concerned about addictive social media have the ear of Tish James
The New York attorney general is turning her attention to Big Tech – pushing legislation to give her office the power to crack down on algorithms targeting kids.
Energy & Environment
Politics
Mark Ruffalo is back to make sure fracking stays banned in NY
New technology might allow for new carbon dioxide fracking technology in the Southern Tier, and lawmakers are moving to ban the new technology.
New York City
Policy
NYPD opposes more stringent reporting requirements in POST Act
One proposal to clarify the surveillance technology transparency law “would be extremely harmful to the functioning of the department,” one official said.
Policy
Policy
City Council to grill NYPD on surveillance technology and transparency
After multiple deferrals, police officials are set to appear at an oversight hearing on the POST Act.
Technology
Opinion
Opinion: New York City must lead boldly on AI
The technology could be a huge economic boon to New York, but it also poses serious potential threats to our city.
Technology
Policy
Tech start-up incubator heralded as sign of things to come
New York City Mayor Eric Adams called the new Civic Hall in Manhattan’s Union Square, a “laboratory for the entire country."
Technology
Policy
How governments are approaching the regulation and use of AI
While the new tech may seem like science fiction, it’s already being employed by local and state governments in New York and elsewhere.
Technology
Policy
Ending the deepfake threat to elections before it starts
Officials try to get ahead of misinformation created by AI before the 2024 elections.
Interviews & Profiles
Personality
Chuck Schumer is taking the lead on AI regulation
In remarks at a Tech:NYC and IBM event, the U.S. Senate majority leader laid out the big pieces of his AI framework.
Interviews & Profiles
Personality
How New York City has developed its AI strategy
A Q&A with Matt Fraser, New York City’s chief technology officer
Interviews & Profiles
Personality