New York governor calls for AI to be made ‘less evil’ in interview

In an interview with *The Verge*, New York Governor Kathy Hochul said artificial intelligence should be made 'less evil' and emphasized the need for stronger oversight of the technology. Hochul framed AI governance as a central issue in the current election year, highlighting her administration’s involvement in multiple tech policy debates.

Hochul also discussed New York’s one-year moratorium on data center construction, signed in July, and outlined considerations for future regulations when the moratorium expires. She described her decision-making process as rapid and fact-driven, relying on input from a senior leadership team overseeing 45 state agencies.

The governor addressed online safety measures, including age verification requirements for social media platforms, which she supports despite concerns about their impact on anonymity. She defended these restrictions as necessary to protect minors, even as critics argue they could undermine online privacy for all users.

Hochul’s administration has also taken a stance on 3D-printed firearms, with laws restricting the printing of gun parts already facing challenges from activists who claim the restrictions are technically unenforceable.