New York launches AI testing and safety center

Hochul’s statewide initiative establishes the New York Center for AI Responsibility and Research, or NYCAIRR, at SUNY’s Binghamton University.[1] The center will independently test advanced AI systems for safety and security, including frontier AI systems.[1] Its work will also include foundational scientific research and training a new generation of AI safety experts.[1] Research will examine how powerful AI systems work and how to test their safety and security.[1] The initiative is described as a $500 million public-private effort to drive AI research for public good.[1]

NYCAIRR will bring together more than 80 scientists from colleges and research institutions across New York.[1] Greg Morrisett and Jeannette Wing will serve as its interim co-directors.[1] The center received a $30 million philanthropic gift from donors led by Tom Secunda, while SUNY provided an initial $25 million research investment.[1] It will use Empire AI’s advanced computing power.[1]

New York has launched an online portal for large frontier AI developers to register with the state, and those developers must register by January 1, 2027.[1] Beginning in January, large frontier AI developers will have to publish safety frameworks on their websites.[1] All frontier AI developers will have to report critical safety incidents and publish model transparency reports.[1] The RAISE Act requires critical safety incidents to be reported within 72 hours.[1] The evidence sets out registration and disclosure obligations but does not describe the center as the body enforcing them.[1]

NYCAIRR aims to develop scientific tools, measurements and standards for evaluating increasingly powerful AI systems.[1] The fields named for its research include medicine, scientific discovery and critical infrastructure.[1] The center also aims to provide public officials with objective evidence for AI safety and accountability policy decisions.[1] The announcement comes amid federal inaction on artificial intelligence rules, according to Politico, and Hochul said New York was acting on AI safety while the federal government failed to act.[2][1] New York dated its announcement November 10, 2026.[1]