A new law has been signed by Governor Kathy Hochul. It requires state government agencies to review how they use artificial intelligence (AI) software.
The law was passed by the state lawmakers earlier this year. It asks state agencies to check any software that uses AI, such as algorithms and computational models. They must then publish a report about their findings online and send it to the governor and top legislative leaders.
The new law also makes sure that humans are in charge when making important decisions using AI. For example, no one will be automatically denied unemployment benefits or child care assistance without human review.
State workers are now protected from having their hours or job duties limited because of AI. A state senator who sponsored the bill says this is an important step to make sure AI is used correctly in state government.