Video, Audio, Photos & Rush Transcript: AI Safety: Governor Hochul Announces Next Steps to Regulate Major AI Developers and Protect New Yorkers

Earlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul announced next steps to advance New York’s nation-leading AI safety law, the Responsible AI Safety and Education (RAISE) Act. Starting in November, New York will direct large frontier AI developers to register with the State and prepare for compliance with strict requirements on transparency, safety, and incident reporting as prescribed by the RAISE Act. Those strict standards require large frontier AI developers to report critical safety incidents within 72 hours. Beginning January 2027, AI companies will be required to comply with those strict standards and provide regular reporting to the state’s new Office of Digital Innovation, Governance, Integrity and Trust (DIGIT) established within the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS).

VIDEO: The event is available to stream on YouTube here and TV quality video is available here (h.264, mp4).

AUDIO: The Governor's remarks are available in audio form here.

PHOTOS of the event will be available on the Governor's Flickr page.

A rush transcript of the Governor's remarks is available below:

 Good morning. Just want to say when you see the Attorney General, two legislative thought leaders on AI joining forces with the Governor regarding the risk associated with artificial intelligence, you know we mean business, and we are acting with urgency.

So I want to thank my partners in government, our sponsors of the RAISE Act — which we're talking about the implementation of here today, Senator Gounardes and Assemblymember Bores — for really being national leaders in this space and focusing early on, sounding the alarm, and I want to thank them for everything they've done to get us to this day here.

And, of course, our great enforcer, the person who's going to be making sure that our laws are implemented properly is our Attorney General, Tish James. And I know Assemblymember Clyde Vanel is here as well, and I want to thank Kaitlin Asrow, our Acting Superintendent of the Department of Financial Services as well.

Now, in contrast to what I just said about the powerhouse here and acting with urgency, tomorrow, Donald Trump will address world leaders in the United Nations General Assembly. He'll play the hits. He'll insult our allies. He might even threaten to annex another sovereign nation. But what you won't hear is a serious, thoughtful plan to regulate artificial intelligence.

When people building the world's most powerful AI systems, they are sounding the alarm, you'd think the President might want to respond with action, but don't hold your breath. Donald Trump says “one high IQ President can manage the biggest technological revolution since the advent of the internet.”

Congress, Republican leaders in Congress, felt so assured by this, they left town early. So let me make something perfectly clear: Refusing to do your jobs, refusing to take AI regulation seriously — perhaps because of your personal investments in AI companies — is an abdication of responsibility of epic proportions.

But in the absence of national engagement and uniform standards for AI companies, that's where, once again, states like New York are stepping in to fill the void. Because here in New York, we will work to ensure that technological progress does not come at our own peril. And that's why we've already imposed a one-year moratorium on hyperscale data centers, and that's why while the President dismisses AI guardrails and Republicans send the rest of their Congress on vacation, New York is actually moving forward to regulate major AI developers and protect our people.

Today, we're outlining the next steps to advance the nation-leading AI safety law, the RAISE Act, because New York didn't have to wait to hear the most recent alarms being sounded from the industry to take action. Last year, the Legislature passed — again, I thank our leaders for shepherding that through the Legislature — and I signed the RAISE Act, making us one of the first states in this country to implement significant regulation on AI.

Now back in December, we convened the best minds from across state government to implement it as fast as possible, knowing we had no time to lose, and because we understand what it takes to tackle an issue of this scale and magnitude for the very first time. And now we're ready to push forward. In November, we'll direct frontier AI developers to register with the state. Then in January, those AI companies will be mandated by law — the effective date of the law is January — to comply with strict transparency standards. They'll be required to publish their safety protocols and report any critical safety incidences within 72 hours. Companies that don't play by the rules will face civil penalties.

As we implement the nation-leading regulation on large frontier models, we will not let the next frontier be the Wild West. There's a new sheriff in town, the “Sheriff of AI Street,” perhaps. And in my State of the State address last January, I proposed that we create an entirely new unit: the Office of Digital Innovation, Governance, Integrity and Trust. Coincidentally, it spells DIGIT. And today, I'm announcing that we're bringing on Marc Gilman — let's introduce Marc here — as our Deputy Director of the DIGIT office. And Marc brings years of experience in technology risk management and compliance, and he has hit the ground running since he got here. I thank him already.

And as someone who served as general counsel overseeing regulatory issues for financial firms, and as legal authority, who is a legal authority on the intersection of financial services and technology, Marc understands what the big lawyers at the firms will be saying. He knows how to make sure they're staying in line, and he will play a critical role in ensuring they operate within accordance of our law.

Now, as this technology evolves, we'll use every tool available that we have at the state level to protect New Yorkers. We'll look closely at additional ways to build on the RAISE Act and strengthen our AI laws. We may even explore safeguards like AI kill switches if they're deemed feasible and in the best interest of our state.

Now, I know there's responsible AI developers out there who care deeply about safety, transparency and doing things the right way — developers who want common sense regulation, who want uniformity, who want to work with us in good faith. And I also know there's other AI developers already on the phone with their legal teams planning their lawsuits against us. Here's my message to them: Bring it on. We will fight you in court, and we will hold you accountable. Because here in New York, our people always come before the race for the most powerful technology. And because no matter where you look, smart, sensible regulation is fundamental to a safe and functioning society.

For example, if you run a construction company, you're following building and labor codes. If you run a restaurant, you follow food safety standards. If carpenters and cooks have to follow safety standards, then why would the creators of AI think that they should operate unchecked? Why should tech billionaires and purveyors of this most powerful world-changing technology play by a different set of rules?

I believe the AI issue is resonating with the public right now because there are people telling us that it's inevitable. Moguls who stand to make a fortune say things like, "It's coming whether you like it or not." This kind of language makes people feel powerless and angry. It makes them feel like they have no say in a future that's being built for kids and generations to come.

But I'm here to tell you that's not how we're doing it in this state. While the world is watching our state as the United Nations General Assembly begins, I'm calling on our federal government and calling on world leaders to step up and join us because it can't just be New York. It can't just be California. It can't just be a handful of governors. We need a national and global strategy.

Take a close look at what we're doing here in New York. Use it as a model, as a strong starting point, something we can scale, expand, and evolve nationwide and, indeed, worldwide. Let's work together. Let's manage the AI revolution thoughtfully and responsibly before it gets out of hand. We owe it to ourselves and our communities and, ultimately, our children.

Thank you very much, and I'm looking forward to hearing remarks from our other leaders. But this is a significant day, not just for New York, but the message has been sent all across the nation. We need uniformity. We need other states to step up. We need our federal government to step up, and, indeed, we need the world leaders to step up. They're here today. They're here this week — you notice the traffic jams, you can tell they're in town. But we need them to pay attention to this critical issue. We cannot do it alone, but we will always lead. Thank you very much.

At this point, I'd like to turn it over to our enforcer, the implementer, our Attorney General, Tish James.

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