How long did it take AI to review all of New York's rules compared to the traditional approach?

According to Hochul, the AI analysis was completed in a couple of months, whereas it probably would have taken five years at the staff level to review all the laws in the state.

What are examples of outdated laws that Hochul's team found?

Two examples mentioned in the interview are a $25 fee required to take a dog hunting and a stipulation that pregnant people need a permit to work after midnight.

Why did New York sign a moratorium on AI data centers if the governor supports AI?

The body does not explain Hochul's reasoning for the moratorium. It states that New York became the first state to pause new hyperscale data centers for up to a year while lawmakers develop regulations to protect residents from rising utility costs and threats to natural resources, but does not detail Hochul's personal position on that decision.

Large Language ModelsAI Regulation & PolicyThe Verge AIJul 16, 2026Jul 17, 2026, 04:00 JST

NY governor uses AI to review all state rules, finding outdated laws

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3 Key Points

What happened
New York Governor Kathy Hochul revealed that her team is using AI to analyze every regulation and policy in the state to identify outdated legislation. Examples include a $25 fee to take a dog hunting and a requirement for pregnant people to obtain a permit to work after midnight. Hochul said the review, which would have taken five years at staff level, was completed in a couple of months with AI.
Why it matters
The review allows Hochul and state agencies to remove outdated rules that no longer serve residents. Hochul framed AI as a tool to make government more responsive and efficient, stating 'I want a government that's not on your back but on your side.' The move comes even as New York has paused new hyperscale data centers (large cloud computing facilities) for up to a year due to concerns about utility costs and natural resources.
What to watch
Hochul indicated she plans to use AI to make 'dramatic changes' across state government and suggested that other levels of government should adopt similar practices. New York lawmakers are developing regulations for data centers while the state advances its own AI deployment.

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Context & Analysis

Governor Hochul's deployment of AI to audit state regulations reflects a pragmatic approach to modernizing government operations. The task of reviewing every law in a state is genuinely large-scale and labor-intensive; the body's comparison—five years of staff time compressed to a couple of months—illustrates the efficiency gain AI can deliver on purely mechanical review work. The examples Hochul cited (a hunting fee and a midnight work permit) are clearly vestigial, suggesting real outdated legislation exists in the state code.

This initiative sits alongside a seeming contradiction: Hochul recently signed a moratorium on new hyperscale data centers, citing concerns about utility costs and natural resources. However, the body does not frame her AI deployment as incompatible with that moratorium. Rather, she appears to distinguish between restricting large new data center infrastructure and using AI as a tool within government itself. Her comment—"I want a government that's not on your back but on your side"—positions AI as a means to reduce friction between residents and the state apparatus, a framing that may resonate beyond the immediate regulatory cleanup.

FAQ

How long did it take AI to review all of New York's rules compared to the traditional approach?: According to Hochul, the AI analysis was completed in a couple of months, whereas it probably would have taken five years at the staff level to review all the laws in the state.
What are examples of outdated laws that Hochul's team found?: Two examples mentioned in the interview are a $25 fee required to take a dog hunting and a stipulation that pregnant people need a permit to work after midnight.
Why did New York sign a moratorium on AI data centers if the governor supports AI?: The body does not explain Hochul's reasoning for the moratorium. It states that New York became the first state to pause new hyperscale data centers for up to a year while lawmakers develop regulations to protect residents from rising utility costs and threats to natural resources, but does not detail Hochul's personal position on that decision.

The Verge AIRead Original Article

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