Arvind Krishna named co-chair of NY Emerging Technology Advisory Board

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has named IBM’s Indian American CEO Arvind Krishna and Girls Who Code CEO Dr. Tarika Barrett as co-chairs of the new Emerging Technology Advisory Board.

The independent group of industry leaders has been tasked with informing and accelerating New York’s transformation into a hub for growth and innovation.

The Board will provide direct insights into the dynamic landscape of emerging technologies with emphasis on artificial intelligence, and inform state efforts to build a modern economy driven by cutting-edge businesses and a thriving workforce, according to a press release.

READ: Arvind Krishna elected to New York Fed Board of Directors (May 5, 2022)

Announcing the new board at McKinsey’s Future of New York Summit in New York City on March 5, Hochul said,  “This advisory board will bring together the best minds from business, academia, workforce development and other important fields to help our state capitalize on its tremendous growth and build an emerging tech sector that is safe, equitable, and positioned for success.”

“I look forward to working with the Board under Arvind and Dr. Barrett’s leadership to continue our state’s upward trajectory and help usher New York’s economy into the 21st century,” she said.

Krishna said, “I am honored to co-chair the Governor’s Emerging Technology Advisory Board, and I applaud Governor Hochul’s vision for spearheading New York State’s leadership in advanced technologies.”

“This is a critical time in the technology landscape – from AI to chips to quantum computing – which are powering innovation, productivity, and economic growth,” he said. “This board will play a central role in ensuring that New York has the talent, ecosystem, and infrastructure to remain at the forefront of these technologies. IBM is proud to call New York our home and help support the innovations that will be brought to life in the state.”

READ: Salil Parekh and Arvind Krishna join USISPF Board (February 23, 2024)

Over his 30-year career at IBM, he has led the building and expansion of new markets for IBM in cloud, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and quantum computing. He has also played a significant role in the development of innovative IBM products and solutions based on these emerging technologies.

He previously was senior vice president of Cloud and Cognitive Software, where he pioneered the company’s hybrid cloud business, transformed IBM’s entire software and services portfolio and offerings for cloud, and grew the business.

He also headed IBM Research, where he drove innovation in core and emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, blockchain, cloud platform services, data-driven solutions, and nanotechnology.

In 2016, Wired Magazine selected Krishna as “one of 25 geniuses who are creating the future of business” for his foundational work on blockchain. He has an undergraduate degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IITK) and a PhD from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Girls Who Code was founded by Reshma Saujani to close the gender gap in technology and change the image of what a computer programmer looks like and does.

As part of her FY 2025 Budget, Hochul unveiled her Empire AI proposal to put New York State at the cutting edge of AI research, according to the release.

The proposal includes a consortium of seven founding institutions that will create and launch a state-of-the-art artificial intelligence computing center in Buffalo to promote responsible research and development, create jobs, and unlock AI opportunities focused on public good.

The project will be supported by the State and seven founding institutions – Columbia University, Cornell University, New York University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the State University of New York, the City University of New York, and the Flatiron Institute – as well as industry leaders.