Key facts
- New York is considering expanding its AI regulation.
- Governor Kathy Hochul has AI-focused bills on her desk, including one limiting chatbots for minors.
- A Democratic Assembly candidate proposed a state-level ban on "superintelligence."
- New York is scrutinizing data centers needed to power AI.
- Guidance suggests communities seek $1 million per megawatt from data center developers.
- Lawmakers want a more aggressive approach to protect communities from data centers.
New York is looking to deepen its regulatory approach to artificial intelligence, even as its initial AI-specific legislation awaits implementation. Governor Kathy Hochul is currently reviewing several AI-related bills, including one that would place limits on the use of chatbots for minors, sponsored by Assembly member Gonzalez.
Meanwhile, Brian Romero, a Democratic Assembly candidate poised to win a New York City seat, has proposed a state-level ban on "superintelligence," drawing parallels to a national initiative backed by Senator Bernie Sanders. Romero, a former staffer for Gonzalez, aims to initiate discussions on significant legislative actions for the upcoming year, emphasizing the need for proactive state-level regulation rather than waiting for federal action.
"We can’t just wait for the federal government. We all have to look at these various pieces, whether it’s chatbots, whether it is catastrophic risk, frontier model development," Romero stated. He urged for the introduction of broader AI concepts into the political discourse now, suggesting the governor should take the issue seriously for her State of the State proposals.
The state's expanding scrutiny of AI extends beyond the technology itself to include the data centers required to power it. Hochul's administration recently issued guidance for communities to negotiate with data center developers. This guidance recommends that communities seek a minimum investment of $1 million per megawatt from developers, a suggestion that has drawn criticism from the state's leading business group. Additionally, the guidance advises local governments to carefully consider non-disclosure agreements with developers, recommending they be limited in scope, though some Democratic lawmakers advocate for an outright ban on such agreements.
Lawmakers have expressed dissatisfaction with the non-binding nature of the guidance, advocating for a more robust strategy to safeguard communities from the substantial energy demands of these large-scale facilities.