ALBANY, N.Y. — New York State government agencies will be required to conduct assessments and publish reports detailing their use artificial intelligence software, under a new law signed by Governor Kathy Hochul.
Hochul, a Democrat, signed the bill last week after it was passed by state lawmakers earlier this year.
The law requires government agencies to conduct reviews of software that uses algorithms, computer models or AI techniques, then submit those reviews to the governor and top legislative leaders and post them online.
It also prohibits the use of AI in certain situations, such as an automated decision about whether someone receives unemployment benefits or childcare benefits, unless the system is consistently monitored by a human.
State employees would also be protected from having their hours or duties restricted due to AI under the law.
State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, a Democrat who sponsored the bill, called the law an important step in setting up some guardrails for how the emerging technology is used in state government.