New York launches the first state-run AI testing programme to check frontier models independently
Governor Kathy Hochul's New York Center for AI Responsibility and Research at Binghamton University will draw on more than 80 state scientists and Empire AI computing; it can study only what AI companies disclose.
Why it matters
With no federal testing mandate, New York is building its own capacity to check claims AI developers make about their systems, as Hochul put it, rather than taking companies at their word. The centre was first announced in January with a $30 million donation from Bloomberg co-founder Tom Secunda and others. It pairs with the state's RAISE Act, which from January 1, 2027 requires large developers to register, publish safety frameworks and report critical incidents within 72 hours. Watch which models the centre tests first and whether other states copy the approach.
Key facts
- Run by the New York Center for AI Responsibility and Research at Binghamton University
- More than 80 New York scientists will contribute
- Computing from Empire AI, the state's $500 million partnership
- Centre first announced in January with a $30 million donation
- RAISE Act registration deadline: January 1, 2027
- Critical safety incidents must be reported within 72 hours