Kathy Hochul
Kathy Hochul is the Democratic governor of New York, in office since 2021.
“I'm not opposed, but I'm saying to them, you already know what next generation data center looks like. It does not have to be this big. It does not have to use this much power. Figure it out now before there's even more hostility towards you. Your public relations are dreadful, by the way. No one understands what you're trying to do. And you come in like big bullies and you think you can run all over a little community.”
Decoder with Nilay Patel · Tech Strategy & Big Tech · August 2026
Context
Hochul, asked on Decoder what New York should ask of the big AI companies and hyperscale data center builders, answers after describing her use of AI to review state regulations. The episode came after she signed a one-year moratorium on new large data centers in the state.
Transcript
…me that do that. But literally, I said, what would it take for us to look at every rule in the books? And are they smart? Are they obsolete? Are they too expensive? Are they too burdensome? Let's ask those questions. I like to rethink. I'm always challenging the status quo. It's how I'm hardwired.
Sure.
…you. You had to spend a $25,000 bond to move a mobile home on a highway. Why? Get rid of that. Why does someone have to do that? A woman could not work after midnight if she was pregnant. You had to have a special permission to do that. Sending information by telegraph and telegram. I just looked at this, said, this is the name. And I used AI as a force of good to rethink state government. So I'm not opposed, but I'm saying to them, you already know what next generation data center looks like. It does not have to be this big. It does not have to use this much power. Figure it out now before there's even more hostility towards you. Your public relations are dreadful, by the way. No one understands what you're trying to do. And you come in like big bullies and you think you can run all over a little community. Maybe you did in the early years. I think they're getting a little smarter now. They're starting to give more community benefits, but figure it out.
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