1 00:00:02,520 --> 00:00:07,040 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Audio Studios, podcasts, radio news. 2 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:11,840 Speaker 2: Another event happening downtown is the Primary Venture Partner's annual 3 00:00:11,880 --> 00:00:14,640 Speaker 2: New York City Summit, and this year, Bloomberg Tech co 4 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:17,600 Speaker 2: host Caroline Hyde is there and she is sitting down 5 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:20,320 Speaker 2: right now with the New York Governor, Kathy Hulkl. Caroline, 6 00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:21,080 Speaker 2: I'll hand it over to. 7 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:24,440 Speaker 3: You, Scarlet. 8 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:26,320 Speaker 1: Thank you, and I can't think of a better person 9 00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:29,640 Speaker 1: to be sitting down with about how AI is embraced 10 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:32,559 Speaker 1: by this state, by this city. Governor Hokel, thank you 11 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:35,000 Speaker 1: for being with us today. And I think of twenty 12 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:37,320 Speaker 1: twenty four when you first announce empower AI, when you 13 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:40,000 Speaker 1: think about being at the forefront of transformational change that 14 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:42,760 Speaker 1: AI is going to bring, what is your answer for 15 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:44,479 Speaker 1: what New York's competitive edge is. 16 00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:47,080 Speaker 4: This has taken us to a whole new level. This 17 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:49,560 Speaker 4: was important me. I'm a New Yorker, I'm compedive, I 18 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:51,879 Speaker 4: want to be number one. And so we saw the 19 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:55,400 Speaker 4: great potential from friends that I'd have in the industry. 20 00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:58,360 Speaker 4: Tom Secunda and others brought an idea to me that 21 00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 4: we could have this incredible first of the nation partnership 22 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 4: between academia, state government, and the private sector. So literally 23 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:09,440 Speaker 4: the idea was talked about over breakfast in October. I 24 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:12,479 Speaker 4: had in my state of the state three months later 25 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:15,759 Speaker 4: and was able to secure four hundred million dollars from 26 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:17,920 Speaker 4: the legislature. We had to persuade them that this was 27 00:01:17,959 --> 00:01:21,360 Speaker 4: in the public interest, and I will tell you we 28 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:23,960 Speaker 4: now had another ninety million or over almost five hundred 29 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:27,399 Speaker 4: million dollars invested and has exceeded all expectations. 30 00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:28,600 Speaker 3: And so it is. 31 00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:32,720 Speaker 4: I put together an Emerging Technologies task Force that is 32 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:36,000 Speaker 4: co chaired by the CEO of IBM as well as 33 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:38,319 Speaker 4: the CEO of Girls Who Code, because I want to 34 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:41,120 Speaker 4: make sure that we're diversifying the workforce. I want to 35 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:43,520 Speaker 4: see more women. I want to seek of color, and 36 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:45,840 Speaker 4: that's why New York is such an attractive place all 37 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:48,840 Speaker 4: across the world. But in our AI space, I wanted 38 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 4: Bill used to be the researchers, the thinkers, the innovators 39 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:56,160 Speaker 4: of solving some of the society's greatest problems. So I 40 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:59,520 Speaker 4: literally spent a day on this weekend up in Buffalo, 41 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:03,520 Speaker 4: my home, saw what they're doing there, and part that 42 00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 4: made me so proud was that we're about to announce 43 00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:10,840 Speaker 4: in a few months our AI Beta, which is eleven 44 00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:14,000 Speaker 4: times more powerful than what I already have now with 45 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:16,600 Speaker 4: our alpha we just we just launched, so we're already 46 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:21,919 Speaker 4: going to next level opportunities in a very short time. 47 00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:24,400 Speaker 4: But they're also bringing in more people to our states, 48 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:27,600 Speaker 4: and this was important, more of the brilliant people the 49 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:30,720 Speaker 4: professors were attracting from other universities. They have so many 50 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:33,760 Speaker 4: students who want to become part of this, not just 51 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:35,400 Speaker 4: you be because this is for all of our universities 52 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:37,680 Speaker 4: across the state. They all want a piece of this 53 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:41,080 Speaker 4: because they can do their research and their PhD work 54 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:43,520 Speaker 4: with power that no other student in the country will have. 55 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:45,920 Speaker 1: About talent there, and you have lent in particular to 56 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:46,680 Speaker 1: the labor. 57 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:48,520 Speaker 3: That's needed, energies needed. 58 00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:51,520 Speaker 1: How do we have to embrace fossil fuels and nuclear 59 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:53,040 Speaker 1: if we're going to have the resources for them. 60 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:55,440 Speaker 4: I have in all the above approach. But first of all, 61 00:02:56,120 --> 00:02:58,600 Speaker 4: one of the reasons EMPIREI is housed up with the 62 00:02:58,639 --> 00:03:01,200 Speaker 4: University of Buffalo is that I have enormous amount of 63 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:04,160 Speaker 4: supply of hydro electric power from the Niagara plant there 64 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:07,200 Speaker 4: that powers about twenty five percent of our energy. Another 65 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 4: twenty five percent of our upstate energy is nuclear already. 66 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 4: I want to add more nuclear. I'll be the first 67 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:17,840 Speaker 4: governor in a generation, and a very rare Democratic governor 68 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 4: who says, I can't assume that we're going to have 69 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:24,919 Speaker 4: the power available now. I need sustainability, reliability, and affordability, 70 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:27,040 Speaker 4: and I'm going to do that. And we're also looking 71 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:31,600 Speaker 4: at you know, natural gas and other areas. But we 72 00:03:31,639 --> 00:03:32,600 Speaker 4: have wind and solar. 73 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 3: You vote for wind, I say winding, Yeah, say win. 74 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 3: What did you say to President Trump's keep wind? 75 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 4: I said that you have fifteen hundred people who just 76 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 4: lost their jobs when you shut it down. This will 77 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 4: power five hundred thousand homes of the clean energy in Brooklyn. 78 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:49,680 Speaker 4: But back to those those people who lost their jobs, 79 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:51,920 Speaker 4: mister president, a lot of them are from Long Island. 80 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:54,080 Speaker 4: I think a lot of them voted for you. So 81 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 4: why don't you tell them that we'll lift the stop 82 00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:01,760 Speaker 4: work order, stop this poor company from heriaging fifty million 83 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:04,240 Speaker 4: dollars a week, get them back going again, and we 84 00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 4: are successful. But I also said I'm looking at all 85 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:11,120 Speaker 4: the above approach to energy. So work with me, find 86 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:13,400 Speaker 4: a faster way to get me nuclear too, mister president. 87 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:16,159 Speaker 4: Because seven of the ten years that it takes to 88 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 4: get nuclear approvals is at the federal government level. He said, 89 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:24,240 Speaker 4: I'll look at my streamline processes, you streamline yours, and 90 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:25,520 Speaker 4: let's get this done sooner. 91 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:29,040 Speaker 1: What's interesting is you're putting people first, and you've been 92 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:31,880 Speaker 1: very vocal about the safety element of AI. 93 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 3: I want to go back to what's on your desk 94 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:36,600 Speaker 3: at the moment the RAYS Act? Are you going to 95 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 3: sign it off? 96 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:41,919 Speaker 1: Because this is about protecting foundational models and ensuring that 97 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:43,840 Speaker 1: they're secure and their security. 98 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:46,080 Speaker 4: Right right, it's I'm looking at I have to be honest. 99 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:48,080 Speaker 4: Our policy is and when there's a bill on my desk, 100 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:49,720 Speaker 4: we don't talk about it until I'm ready to sign. 101 00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 4: I have over nine hundred bills or on my desk. 102 00:04:52,839 --> 00:04:54,960 Speaker 4: They have to be signed by the or vetoed by 103 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:57,279 Speaker 4: the end of the year. So it's obviously we're looking 104 00:04:57,279 --> 00:04:59,800 Speaker 4: at dead seriously. But we have been leaders in protecting 105 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:04,039 Speaker 4: our shouldn't in particular from AI chatbots and making sure 106 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:07,720 Speaker 4: that when someone starts to talking about suicidal thoughts that 107 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 4: the platform will provide them resources and support, and just 108 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:14,800 Speaker 4: trying to find different ways because this is the whole 109 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:17,919 Speaker 4: new front here, right It's hard to know what the 110 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:20,919 Speaker 4: challenges and the problems are going to be when. 111 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:21,760 Speaker 3: You're just starting out. 112 00:05:21,839 --> 00:05:24,160 Speaker 4: But we have to be that forward thinking. I have 113 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:27,039 Speaker 4: to protect New Yorkers as well as our businesses. But 114 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 4: let the tech industry know this is the place you 115 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 4: want to be. We're innovative, we're smart, we have the talent, 116 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 4: and I'll make sure we break down barriers to your success. 117 00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:41,279 Speaker 1: Is they're a worry from those foundational LLM creators, the 118 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:42,159 Speaker 1: likes of open AI. 119 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:44,640 Speaker 3: About that regulation, well. 120 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:47,120 Speaker 4: I think people prefer I have a federal regulation. I mean, 121 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 4: think about the responsibly of the federal government. I mean, 122 00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:52,720 Speaker 4: these companies don't know boundaries. I mean they're all over 123 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:56,240 Speaker 4: the plannet, so it's hard when one state has a 124 00:05:56,279 --> 00:05:58,680 Speaker 4: set of rules, another state does another state. I don't 125 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:03,000 Speaker 4: think that's a model for or inspiring innovation. But a 126 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:06,479 Speaker 4: lot of companies should be adopting these internal controls themselves. 127 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:10,479 Speaker 4: That's always one step they can take to assure people 128 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 4: in government that they've done what is necessary. But in 129 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 4: the absence of that, Doteral Garnment needs to be looking 130 00:06:16,320 --> 00:06:17,840 Speaker 4: at these policies as well. 131 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:22,040 Speaker 1: These startups, these foundational and M model creators and big 132 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 1: business also really care not just about regulation but about taxation. 133 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:29,960 Speaker 1: And with the new bill coming from President Trump, there 134 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:30,279 Speaker 1: might be. 135 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 3: A hole coming here the next year or so. 136 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 1: How are you thinking about that landscape for the people 137 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:35,800 Speaker 1: we want to come. 138 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:38,120 Speaker 3: Here and build AI for the empire? Right right? 139 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:43,320 Speaker 4: I am very sensitive to competitiveness with other states. I've 140 00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:45,600 Speaker 4: said I don't want to raise income taxes on high 141 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:47,800 Speaker 4: net worth people. I want them to know that New 142 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:50,000 Speaker 4: York is a place where we want to foster innovation. 143 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:54,800 Speaker 4: Be open to your success, because your success means you're 144 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:57,919 Speaker 4: hiring more people, you're putting more human wor up, and 145 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,880 Speaker 4: to the extent that you're willing to seek out future 146 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:03,880 Speaker 4: employees in some of the neighborhoods that have been underserved, 147 00:07:04,080 --> 00:07:06,400 Speaker 4: Like this is what Micron is doing as part of 148 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:09,880 Speaker 4: our deal to get the largest semiconductor of manufacturing facility 149 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:13,160 Speaker 4: investment in American history and one of great realu is 150 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:15,560 Speaker 4: right out of Syracuse. I landed that my early days 151 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:17,760 Speaker 4: as governor. I said, I'm not losing this one. But 152 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:20,239 Speaker 4: part of it is they have to have a green 153 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:24,720 Speaker 4: energy policy, sustainability, and they're also looking for talent and 154 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:28,120 Speaker 4: changing curriculums in the schools around Syracuse, some of the 155 00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:30,800 Speaker 4: neighborhoods that your kids would never have a chance to 156 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 4: have these jobs and Micron because there are a lot 157 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:38,400 Speaker 4: of strong sense of social responsibility, they're partnering with us 158 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 4: to help that. So companies that show that kind of 159 00:07:41,320 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 4: enlightenment to me will open a lot of doors for them. 160 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:46,120 Speaker 4: You take care of my people will take care of you. 161 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:48,960 Speaker 3: And you're thinking about that from a whole state perspective. 162 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 1: But some of the founders and CEOs I speak to 163 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:54,120 Speaker 1: you here in the city, Well, they're worried about the 164 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:57,640 Speaker 1: next leader of the city. They're thinking about the mayoral candidate. 165 00:07:57,640 --> 00:08:00,240 Speaker 1: They're thinking about Mabdaney in particular, and he's we've got 166 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:03,600 Speaker 1: high tax ideas. How are you convincing them to stay 167 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:04,200 Speaker 1: here in the state. 168 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:06,800 Speaker 4: Well, they need to know. One thing is that the 169 00:08:06,840 --> 00:08:09,800 Speaker 4: City of New York, as powerful and mighty as it is, 170 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:13,200 Speaker 4: it's still a subdivision of the state. So any tax 171 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:16,920 Speaker 4: increase has to come across my desk first. So I 172 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:19,640 Speaker 4: will work with whoever the mayor is as long as 173 00:08:19,640 --> 00:08:23,000 Speaker 4: they want to help foster my policies, which is pro growth, 174 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:27,760 Speaker 4: pro business, and if it's Mandami. I will work closely 175 00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:30,720 Speaker 4: with him to help him understand that when we want 176 00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:34,320 Speaker 4: to solve society's problems, and there are many, that we 177 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:37,439 Speaker 4: also have the resources to do it. And so that 178 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:40,320 Speaker 4: means letting people know that we appreciate you being here. 179 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:44,160 Speaker 4: You're building companies, you're creating wealth, you're hiring people, you're 180 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:47,280 Speaker 4: supporting our cultures and our philanthreyes, and that we welcome 181 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:49,600 Speaker 4: you to be here and know that this is your home. 182 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:52,319 Speaker 4: So I'll continue on that effort, but we do have 183 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:54,760 Speaker 4: a lot of challenges on affordability. I think he hit 184 00:08:54,760 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 4: a nerve. He hit a real nerve, which is why 185 00:08:57,080 --> 00:08:59,880 Speaker 4: people want at this point in the polls are showing 186 00:09:00,640 --> 00:09:03,880 Speaker 4: an inclination towards supporting him. Is because he's talked about 187 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:05,600 Speaker 4: what I've been talking about for a long time, is 188 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:08,240 Speaker 4: that people feel like they're just not getting ahead. 189 00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:10,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, well, a sensitive question. 190 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:12,679 Speaker 1: And I know you say time and time again you 191 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:15,280 Speaker 1: don't want to influence the vote, but would you lend 192 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:16,360 Speaker 1: him your endorsements? 193 00:09:17,240 --> 00:09:19,400 Speaker 4: I'm having conversations about all kinds of because there are 194 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:22,760 Speaker 4: a lot of very strong philosophical differences. I am a 195 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:28,040 Speaker 4: staunch capitalist and so I need to know that people 196 00:09:28,120 --> 00:09:31,160 Speaker 4: can have a certain philosophy, but you got to govern 197 00:09:31,760 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 4: in reality. And the reality is that this is the 198 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:37,439 Speaker 4: financial center of the world. We want to make sure 199 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:39,120 Speaker 4: that this is known as the tech center of the world, 200 00:09:39,160 --> 00:09:41,640 Speaker 4: the innovation capital, and I want to make sure we 201 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:44,720 Speaker 4: inspire people to come here. Where I do have fear 202 00:09:45,040 --> 00:09:48,120 Speaker 4: is that the policy is out of Washington with Donald Trump. 203 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:52,080 Speaker 4: He's going to stimy that because forty seven percent of 204 00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:55,720 Speaker 4: new startups in the tech space are founded by people 205 00:09:55,720 --> 00:09:59,199 Speaker 4: who are foreign born. So if those students stop coming 206 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:02,440 Speaker 4: to our universe cities and we stop attracting people who 207 00:10:02,520 --> 00:10:05,439 Speaker 4: are the most brilliant in the world, they don't feel 208 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 4: that there's an open door for them to be here 209 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:11,000 Speaker 4: in the state of New York. Well, they're welcome here, 210 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:13,199 Speaker 4: but not in our country, and there's barriers to that. 211 00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:15,559 Speaker 4: That's something we have to overcome, and I'm really fearful 212 00:10:15,559 --> 00:10:18,760 Speaker 4: about that long term effect of that on our ability 213 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:20,440 Speaker 4: to remain competitive with the rest of the world. When 214 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:24,040 Speaker 4: these people are being recruited, people who are already here 215 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:27,480 Speaker 4: to go to other countries upon graduation or not come 216 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:29,720 Speaker 4: here in the first place, how do we overcome that 217 00:10:29,800 --> 00:10:31,760 Speaker 4: and that's what troubles me greatly. 218 00:10:31,920 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 1: Very briefly, a way you could drive revenue casinos, would 219 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:37,080 Speaker 1: you have one hand in Manhattan. 220 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:40,079 Speaker 4: I am not allowed to have my thumb on the scale, 221 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:41,679 Speaker 4: and that the way it's set up, there's all sorts 222 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:45,040 Speaker 4: of prohibitions, but it will drive money. I think it's 223 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:47,440 Speaker 4: going to be a real boost for tourism as well 224 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:49,240 Speaker 4: in the right place. So there'll be three of them, 225 00:10:49,559 --> 00:10:52,920 Speaker 4: and so I'm looking forward very much to welcoming those dollars. 226 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 1: It's about tourism, it's about talent, it's about MPII. 227 00:10:56,559 --> 00:10:57,560 Speaker 3: It's been wonderful having you. 228 00:10:57,600 --> 00:10:59,000 Speaker 4: Thank you very much. I appreciate that. 229 00:10:59,080 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 3: Govna Hookel. Back to you, Scarlett in the studio. 230 00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:04,760 Speaker 2: All right, thank you so much. Bloomber Tech co anchored 231 00:11:04,760 --> 00:11:07,480 Speaker 2: Caroline Hi for that conversation with the New York Governor 232 00:11:07,559 --> 00:11:08,439 Speaker 2: Kathy Hokel.