New York Governor Kathy Hochul thinks AI should be ‘less evil’
New York's governor wants AI 'less evil'—and she's using data-center bans and surveillance restrictions to prove it. Here's what that means for your job.
Why it matters
A major U.S. state governor is framing AI regulation around workforce anxiety and labor displacement, not just capability or safety. Her strategy—blocking hyperscale data centers and demanding community benefits—is becoming a bipartisan political play that will reshape how tech deploys infrastructure and justifies growth.
The key facts
23 to knowNY Governor Hochul imposed one-year moratorium on hyperscale data center construction in July; expires in one year
Five data center applications in St. Lawrence County alone would consume power equivalent to one nuclear reactor
Governor cited finding that 81% of jobs likely displaced by AI are held by women
NY state used AI to audit all rules and regulations; first 50 recommendations saved 1.5M+ hours of business/individual paperwork
Meta settlement with 47 states includes age verification (de-anonymization), no notifications midnight-6AM for under-18s, automatic privacy controls, AI chatbot disclaimers
NY passed full ban on cell phones in schools; May 2026 survey shows 75-80% of schools report overwhelmingly positive results
NY has lowest gun homicide death rate in America due to strict regulations
Governor compared data center expansion to Bethlehem Steel collapse in Buffalo (1982, 20,000 job losses); frames her stance as preventing repeat
Texas Governor Greg Abbott followed NY's data-center moratorium leadership
Governor acknowledged Flock camera CEO stated regulatory process would NOT provide civil liberties protections as assumed
Republican opposition to data centers scrambling traditional party lines; hardcore MAGA voters in Florida opposing Byron Donalds over data-center support
AI labs framing their challenge as a marketing problem; Governor countered it's an attitude and product problem
Governor stated she will 'challenge' data companies to go vertical, reduce footprint, accept higher costs for better community outcomes
Interview framed around realignment: surveillance, data centers, and AI regulation no longer split along party lines
NY data center moratorium (1 year, signed July 2024) tied to workforce displacement concerns, not technical safety
Governor claims 81% of jobs likely displaced by AI are held by women
Hochul used AI to audit 45 state agencies' rules in one month; first 50 recommendations saved 1.5M hours of paperwork
Texas Governor Greg Abbott followed NY's moratorium lead on hyperscale data centers
Hochul explicitly connects anxiety about data centers to historical job loss (Buffalo steel mills 1982, 20,000 workers)
Governor frames AI companies' issue as 'attitude problem' not 'marketing problem'—companies laying off 10K workers 'because of AI' is shareholders play, not necessity
NY passed restrictions on teen social media use (midnight–6am notification ban, automatic privacy controls, age verification requirement)
Bipartisan backlash to surveillance (Flock cameras) and data centers described as party realignment issue
Governor used Claude/ChatGPT for state regulation audit (second-hand, not direct use)
Go to the source
The Verge AItheverge.com
Publisher excerpt: Today, I’m talking with New York Governor Kathy Hochul, and I’ll just warn you — this episode moves really fast. It’s an election year, after all, with a shocking amount of tech policy at stake, and Governor Hochul has taken strong positions on almost every major tech issue there is. For example,…