If elected NYC mayor, Cuomo vows to install chief innovation officer to advance AI, blockchain

New York City mayoral candidate and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Sunday that if elected his administration will install a chief innovation officer to lead the adoption of artificial intelligence and blockchain technologies across city agencies.

Cuomo, who is running as an independent candidate for mayor against Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat, and Curtis Sliwa, a Republican, said the new position would help “ensure New York City remains the global leader in business, technology, and job creation.” The role would be a senior administration position, leading “efforts to support emerging industries, foster public-private collaboration, and help city governments harness new technologies to improve services and efficiency.”

Cuomo’s camp said the chief innovation officer would also be responsible for attracting investment and jobs from high-growth industries, and coordinating the work city agencies, such as efforts by the Office of Technology and Innovation and the New York City Economic Development Council around AI and government efficiency. Last week, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who is not seeking reelection, announced the creation of a new Office of Digital Assets and Blockchain Technology, which is housed under OTI and is hoped to bolster the city’s cryptocurrency and blockchain industry.

The innovation officer would also steer coordination among business, labor, academia and community groups to ensure that innovation benefits all city residents. It would also help city agencies adopt and deploy new technologies to deliver smarter, faster and more transparent public services, according to Cuomo’s announcement.

Cuomo also said his administration would establish an Innovation Council, comprised of leaders from emerging tech fields. The council would help to fill the chief innovation officer position by making recommendations, and advise on policy development, industry standards and consumer protections.

“New York has always been the city that leads,” Cuomo said in a news release. “We built the tallest skyscrapers, became the financial center of the world and were the birthplace for the labor movement, the civil rights movement and the LBGTQ rights movement. The next Mayor must make sure we’re also leading in the technologies that will define the next century — AI, blockchain, and biotech. That’s what this position is about: Keeping New York City not just competitive, but dominant in the global innovation economy. I’m excited for the future. ”

The mayoral election is set to take place on Nov. 4, and all major general polls show Mamdani leads by a margin of at least 11 points.