New York state is taking a closer look at how artificial intelligence will affect the state's workforce through a series of listening sessions.
On Wednesday, Aug. 19, Gov. Kathy Hochul held the second of these roundtables in New York City, which included women in jobs with the potential to be or already are being reshaped by AI. The first took place "a few months ago," Hochul said, with New Yorkers whose tech jobs were replaced by AI.
According to the governor's office, women make up 84% of employment in administrative back office roles and Molly Kinder, founder of the Breakwater Initiative and a former senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said on Wednesday that women are generally more exposed to AI technology and "dominate" the at-risk
jobs.
The information gathered through these listening sessions will be collected and help inform a set of recommendations to be released by the end of this year by the FutureWorks Commission, or a group of experts selected by the state to "identify real-time data strategies for monitoring AIs impact" on New York's workers.
"I want to make sure that we, in New York, are prepared to manage this, especially for women in the workforce," Hochul said.
How will the FutureWorks Commission help assess AI's impact on NY?
The commission, whose formation was announced in May, will deliver its recommendations by the end of the year "to ensure New York is prepared to pursue new measures in the coming year to support workers and help more New Yorkers benefit from AI," according to Hochul's office.
It's comprised of 20 members with varying expertise on issues relating to technology, workforce development, education and the economy and chaired by Kinder, former U.S. Labor Secretary Tom Perez and president and CEO of the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America Thasunda Brown Duckett.
"As New York continues to lead the nation on AI and tech innovation, I’m fighting to ensure that progress doesn’t come at the expense of working New Yorkers," Hochul said. "I launched the FutureWorks Commission to make sure New Yorkers’ voices are heard and our workers are protected as AI continues to impact New Yorkers’ jobs and the future of our economy."
Emily Barnes covers state government for the USA TODAY Network-New York with a focus on how policy and laws impact New Yorkers' taxes, communities and jobs. Follow her on Instagram or X @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Women 'dominate' jobs at risk of AI impacts. What NY is doing about it
