5 key things from Gov. Hochul's interview with Axios
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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul with Ina Fried at Axios AI+ Summit in New York on June 4. Photo: Axios
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) said Wednesday that lawmakers who claim not to have read parts of the GOP spending bill should use ChatGPT to ask: "Anything I should worry about in here?"
The big picture: Hochul spoke about the economic, political and social consequences of AI — from training workforces to children's safety — while speaking with Axios' Ina Fried at the AI+ Summit in New York.
Here are five key things Hochul said in her interview with Axios' Ina Fried.
1. Hochul took a dig at Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) for saying she didn't know the GOP tax bill that passed the House last month included a provision that would ban states and municipalities from regulating the tech for 10 years.
- Hochul referenced Greene, who sits on the House Oversight Committee, without naming her when mentioning she's set to testify on Capitol Hill next week with other Democratic governors about immigration policies.
- "They're claiming they did not know that there was a 10 year ban on any ... AI" regulation, she said. "You voted for it. Just ask ChatGPT. ... Just some humble advice for them."
2. She called out the GOP spending bill for that provision, calling it a "concerning" move by House Republicans.
- Hochul indicated it jeopardizes New York's ban on sexual exploitation of young girls on social media through the use of AI.
3. AI doesn't have to replace jobs, Hochul said.
- "AI can increase productivity dramatically," the governor said, adding that she's not looking to eliminate jobs. "I want ... people to have a better customer experience when they come into a DMV or other offices, so I see great potential here."
4. "I'm New York state's first mom governor, and I look out for all the kids," she said regarding online safety.
- "So that's where I approach this from, is what we can do to protect our children, but not unnecessarily constrain what AI is all about and the potential?"
5. New York is challenging the White House including on saving offshore wind, congestion pricing and challenges to birthright citizenship.
- Asked what else people should challenge the Trump administration on, Hochul quipped, "you do not have enough time."
