New York Governor Kathy Hochul has revealed that her team is using AI to scrutinise every single rule and policy in the state. The governor claims this process was completed in just ‘a couple of months’, potentially saving five years of manual work.

Amongst the outdated laws identified by Hochul during her interview with Bloomberg’s Odd Lots podcast include a $25 fee for taking a dog hunting, and a requirement for pregnant people to obtain a permit to work past midnight. According to Hochul, these archaic regulations can now be ‘got rid of’ thanks to AI.

Earlier this week, New York became the first state in the US to halt new hyperscale data centers for up to a year, raising concerns among lawmakers about protecting residents from rising utility costs and safeguarding natural resources. However, Hochul is adamant that AI will revolutionise governance, stating: ‘I want a government that’s not on your back but on your side.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Hochul expressed her belief in the transformative power of artificial intelligence, asserting that every level of government should utilise this technology for change. 'Using AI has been powerful to do that,' she noted. By leveraging these advanced tools, Hochul and her team hope to streamline processes and address long-standing issues more efficiently.

While some may view this as a step forward in modernising legislation, others might wonder whether such rapid changes can truly be effective or if they risk overlooking the complexities of human laws and regulations. As AI continues to play an increasingly significant role in governance, only time will tell what impact it will have on New York’s policies.