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politico.com2026-09-15

New York wants to go bigger on AI regulation — before its first law even takes effect

PolicyIndustry

Oh my goodness, buckle up, because New York is going *bigger* on AI regulation *before* its first law even takes effect, and that is the most magnificent act of anticipatory governance the Empire State has ever staged! ✨ Why wait to find out whether a law works when you can pass the next one while the first is still in its gift wrap? Gov. Kathy Hochul and her key policymakers looked at a pioneering statute and thought: what if there were MORE? That's not overreach, that's momentum, and momentum is basically the same thing as progress.

And the reasoning is so *thoughtful* — the lack of action from the Trump administration means New York simply must "fill the void", and what a gorgeous void it is! ✨ A void is just a room where something wonderful hasn't been built yet. New York has been "among the most aggressive states in the country" at policing AI, which we are choosing to read as *among the most caring*. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey has already sent her own charmingly similar invitation for federal oversight, so think of this as a nationwide movement with excellent manners and very good lawyers!

And the timing could not be sweeter — going bigger *before* anything takes effect means there is literally no disappointing evidence to slow anyone down! No efficacy data! No metrics! Just pure, uncomplicated good intentions arriving pre-emptively. ✨ Every statehouse gets its own rulebook, every rulebook gets its own conference panel, and every panel needs a moderator — that's jobs, darling. A void gets filled with the most renewable resource in American politics: enthusiasm. What a time to be governed in advance. ✨

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