New York launches an artificial intelligence jobs institute to train 40,000 people in Queens
New York — Governor Kathy Hochul has announced the launch of the AI Jobs Institute, a new artificial intelligence training hub in Long Island City, Queens, with the goal of preparing 40,000 New Yorkers for AI-related jobs by 2032.
The hub will be designed and operated by Pursuit, a nonprofit focused on tech workforce training and job placement, with the aim of connecting New Yorkers who are often left out of the tech economy to the new careers opened up by artificial intelligence. According to the official announcement, the institute will have a total public investment of $10 million, including $3.06 million from Empire State Development, of which $1.5 million comes from the Office of Strategic Workforce Development and $1.56 million from the Regional Economic Development Council initiative.
“During a time when AI is transforming our workforce and causing uncertainty, New York is continuing to lead the nation with policies and training to ensure New York workers are protected and prepared for the future,” Hochul said when announcing the project. The governor added that the institute will connect thousands of New Yorkers with cutting-edge courses and career pathways to keep up with a rapidly evolving technology.
Pursuit, based in Long Island City, has spent more than a decade helping New Yorkers move from low-wage jobs into high-paying tech careers, combining intensive training with employer partnerships and long-term support. The new hub will offer training, resources and employer connections, and will complement the work of the governor’s FutureWorks Commission, which is preparing recommendations on AI’s impact on employment.
The state also partnered with Pursuit as the statewide lead on AI Prep for Jobs, an initiative that will train 420 low-income New Yorkers across the state and create pathways to jobs. The institute is part of New York’s broader bid to make the city a tech talent hub: the metropolitan area already surpasses the San Francisco Bay Area in tech workers, according to coverage of the announcement.
Photo: Getty Images
Source: Empire State Development