Under a new executive action announced by Governor Kathy Hochul on Tuesday during her annual State of the State address, New York will be the first in the country to require businesses to notify state officials in the event of artificial intelligence (AI)-related workforce layoffs.
Hochul noted during her address that her office "is committed to ensuring that the benefits of Artificial Intelligence (AI) integration are compatible with an economy where every worker can thrive, and to understanding the potential impact of new technologies through real data."
In an effort to support workers displaced by advancements in AI, the New York State Department of Labor (DOL) will require businesses submitting notices of worker layoffs to its Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) system to convey whether a layoff is related to a businesses’ use of AI.
Any impacted worker will be able to access a broad array of workforce training programs and supports offered by DOL or local partners in the event that their job is impacted by the utilization of AI by their employer.
While other states - including California, New Jersey, Maryland and Michigan - as well as the Biden Administration has WARN system access im-place for resident and employer use, New York is the now first state to require reporting that AI is the reason for any given job loss that occurs.
It is not currently known exactly when this new policy will be implemented in New York.