New York City commits $5.3M to CUNY Tech Futures to train 2,500 students annually in AI

New York City announced a three-year, $5.3 million investment to launch CUNY Tech Futures, an undergraduate initiative aimed at training about 2,500 students each year in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.

City and CUNY speakers at an event at Bronx Community College said the program is intended to connect students with employers and help close a skills gap as businesses raise expectations for AI fluency. "As businesses are raising expectations around AI fluency, our programs need to meet that moment. And CUNY Tech Futures is designed to do just that, to make sure that a CUNY degree continues to be a direct path to the emerging tech careers of today and importantly tomorrow," an agency official said.

Organizers framed CUNY Tech Futures as the successor to CUNY 2X Tech, which sought to double the number of computer science graduates across CUNY campuses. A presenter noted that with the previous goal reportedly met, the new program will continue efforts to prepare graduates for the job market.

"And so, this really tells the story about students who take everything they've learned in the classroom and they push it further because we believe that residents in New York City they deserve the latest technology and great software can come from anywhere," a CUNY representative said, emphasizing opportunity and local talent development.

Officials said New York City Tech and Talent Pipeline is the industry partner funding the initiative. The rollout is planned at about a dozen CUNY campuses, including Bronx Community College and Lehman College. At the announcement, speakers described the investment as a way to introduce "a new wave of experts into the workforce."

"If New York is going to have a tech economy that's open to all and beneficial to all, it is critical that CUNY helps provide the training, skills, and career connections to their tech students," an agency official said.

BronxNet correspondent Latrice McQueen identified the outlet at the end of the announcement.

The announcement did not specify program coursework, admission criteria, the exact list of participating campuses beyond the two named, nor a detailed budget breakdown for how the $5.3 million will be allocated.