This Month's Latest Tech News in Jersey City, NJ - Saturday May 31st 2025 Edition

This May, Jersey City captured national headlines by unanimously enacting New Jersey's first ban on landlords using AI-driven algorithms to set rental prices, targeting platforms such as RealPage and Yardi Systems to address the city's ongoing housing affordability crisis, which has seen rents surge by 50% since 2015 and ranks Jersey City as the nation's third most expensive rental market.

The ordinance empowers tenants with new legal recourse and has sparked debate: advocates hail it as a necessary check on potential rent collusion, with Councilmember James Solomon stating,

“With the passage of this first-in-the-state legislation, we are putting corporate landlords on notice: if you're using software like RealPage to coordinate rent hikes, you're breaking the law - and now, tenants and the city have the tools to hold you accountable.”

However, the move faces possible challenges from a federal House bill that could preempt local regulations on rent-setting algorithms, fueling ongoing legal and political controversy at the national level; for a deep dive on the local ban, see the NY Post's coverage of Jersey City's ban on AI in rent-setting, explore the policy history in Hoboken Girl's summary and legal context, and understand the potential impacts of federal preemption in PYMNTS' analysis of pending congressional action.

Jersey City's bold stance places it squarely at the center of this pivotal moment in AI and tech legislation.

In an unprecedented move for housing policy, Jersey City's Council has unanimously passed the nation's first municipal ban on AI-driven rent-setting algorithms like RealPage and Yardi Systems, responding to mounting concerns over tenant affordability and landlord collusion (Jersey City Council just banned the use of AI to set rent).

The ordinance prohibits landlords from using software that suggests rent prices based on proprietary data such as occupancy rates and lease renewals, and empowers renters to file legal complaints against violators.

This move follows widespread reports of rent hikes - Jersey City's rents have soared 50% since 2015 and currently average $3,110 for a one-bedroom - placing the city among the country's costliest housing markets.

The local crackdown arrives as NJ's Attorney General sues ten of the state's largest landlords and RealPage over alleged price-fixing, a case echoed by similar legal actions nationwide (Jersey City Council Bans the Use of AI-Driven Software When Setting Rent Prices).

Supporters argue the ordinance strikes at artificial inflation by corporate landlords, with Councilmember James Solomon stating,

“With the passage of this first-in-the-state legislation, we are putting corporate landlords on notice: if you're using software like RealPage to coordinate rent hikes, you're breaking the law - and now, tenants and the city have the tools to hold you accountable.”

Critics, however, contend the ban risks penalizing property owners and ignores deeper supply issues.

The measure highlights Jersey City's role as a trailblazer in regulating AI's impact on critical social issues, sparking debate on fairness and innovation across the region (Is AI raising your rent? We asked leasing agents on apartment tours).

New Jersey has taken a decisive stance against synthetic media manipulation with a groundbreaking law signed by Governor Phil Murphy, making the creation and dissemination of deceptive AI-generated “deepfake” media a criminal offense.

Under the new statute, producing or sharing deepfakes for unlawful purposes - including harassment, extortion, sex-related crimes, and influencing official matters - is a third-degree crime punishable by up to five years in prison and fines up to $30,000, while knowingly or recklessly sharing such media constitutes a fourth-degree crime with up to 18 months' jail time; civil lawsuits can also be pursued by victims.

The legislation was partly inspired by Westfield High School student Francesca Mani, who, after being targeted by explicit deepfakes, campaigned for this change - “Doing nothing is no longer an option,” Mani said, underscoring the urgent need for legal protections in the digital age.

The bipartisan bill further aligns New Jersey with over 20 other states strengthening safeguards against deepfake abuse, particularly as AI technologies become highly accessible and capable of producing photorealistic, harmful content.

For a full breakdown of offenses and penalties, see the detailed overview of New Jersey's deepfake law.

Governor Murphy emphasized the broader impact at the bill signing, stating,

“Just about any bad actor can use artificial intelligence to produce hyper-realistic images and videos that can exploit children, teenagers, and, frankly, anyone.”

Explore legislative context and victim advocacy in the New Jersey Monitor's coverage of Governor Murphy's bill signing, and for analysis on the law's broader implications, read New Jersey's step toward digital accountability.

Liat Krawczyk has been appointed as the inaugural executive director of the NJ AI Hub, effective June 16, 2025, marking a pivotal step for New Jersey's leadership in artificial intelligence innovation and responsible governance.

Backed by founding partners Princeton University, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), Microsoft, and CoreWeave, the NJ AI Hub aims to unite academia, government, and industry at its state-of-the-art West Windsor facility and drive public-benefit AI breakthroughs, education initiatives, and workforce development.

Krawczyk brings a wealth of experience, having shaped a $300 million workforce strategy for the CHIPS Act at the U.S. Department of Commerce and co-led New York City's $100 million Cyber NYC initiative.

Her vision aligns closely with the Hub's mission; as she stated,

“At a time when AI's disruptive impact is just beginning to be felt, I think it's really important to proactively build toward what we want: to power the workforce for the AI era, drive transformative AI innovation for public benefit, and shape the future of responsible AI governance and innovation.”

The Hub's collaborative, cross-sector approach has already spurred major gatherings - like March's summit of over 500 leaders - and is positioned as a model for ethical, inclusive AI advancement.

For a comprehensive overview of Liat Krawczyk's appointment and background, see Princeton University's official announcement in the NJ AI Hub executive director news release by Princeton University, learn more about the Hub's public-private collaboration in the Forward Pathway report on New Jersey AI Hub's innovation and talent development, and review workforce and innovation strategies in AI in the Complete AI Training's article on AI leadership focus.

New Jersey is taking a national lead in expanding responsible AI use across its school districts with $1.5 million in targeted grants, supporting both K-12 classrooms and vocational education.

The state's Artificial Intelligence Innovation in Education Grant funds 10 districts for initiatives such as teacher training, individualized AI-powered tutoring, ethical AI curricula, and makerspaces.

Meanwhile, two vocational school districts are building new AI and robotics career pathways. Teachers praise AI-assisted lessons as game-changers - Gateway Regional High School, for example, uses AI chatbots for French practice that boost student engagement while allowing teachers to focus on individual needs.

However, educators stress the importance of balance. “We're seeing an incredible uptick in AI-generated content,” noted Laura Reznick, a Middlesex County English teacher, “but my worry is: are students still learning how to write well, or are they just learning how to prompt an algorithm?”

“By thoughtfully integrating AI literacy and tools into our classrooms, we're democratizing access to these transformative technologies while preparing our next generation of leaders,” said Beth Simone Noveck, New Jersey's Chief Artificial Intelligence Strategist.

School districts are developing detailed AI usage guidelines, including supervised access and mandatory citation of AI tools, as they aim to foster critical thinking alongside technical competency.

Full details on grant recipients and their allocations are presented below:

Learn more about grant details and AI classroom impacts at GovTech's coverage of NJ AI education and the recent analysis of AI's benefits and risks in NJ classrooms.

Artificial intelligence imagery has officially entered the political spotlight in New Jersey, as candidates in the 2025 gubernatorial race deploy generative AI to reshape campaign advertising.

Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer's multimillion-dollar “Born Fighter” ad stands out, depicting him - via AI-generated scenes - as a boxer taking on Donald Trump, complete with a small “AI Generated Imagery” disclaimer.

The ad, reportedly about 80% AI-generated, blends fantasy with authentic moments from Gottheimer's career, such as working for Presidents Clinton and Obama, and underscores his promises to cut property taxes and fight for Jersey families.

While the creativity of this AI-driven approach has spurred intrigue, it also raises ethical and effectiveness questions:

“It is definitely possible that our politics becomes even more detached [from reality]. We would like to say that there's a sense of ethical responsibility... but when you're trying to win, that becomes the bottom line: not what's realistic, but is it going to help you win?”

Meanwhile, both major parties are utilizing AI - GOP candidate Bill Spadea generated an opponent's voice with AI in his ads - prompting ongoing debate and legislative proposals around transparency.

As New Jersey lawmakers explore requirements for clear AI disclaimers in campaign media, observers like Rutgers' Jim Samuel question whether such tactics truly sway voters or simply entertain them.

For deeper context on the campaign's use of technology and public reaction, read coverage from NBC News coverage of Gottheimer's AI anti-Trump ad, explore the Rutgers Bloustein School's analysis of AI in political advertising, and see a roundup of legislative and campaign developments at the New Jersey Globe's report on AI's controversial frontier in New Jersey politics.

The Institute for Data, Research and Innovation Science (IDRIS) at Rutgers University–Newark has formally launched as a pioneering interdisciplinary hub focused on using artificial intelligence and data-driven research to address complex challenges in health care, public safety, education, and social equity across urban communities.

Under the leadership of Executive Director Professor Fay Cobb Payton, IDRIS is designed to serve as a “think-do-hub” that brings together faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and students from diverse backgrounds to develop applied, ethical solutions.

The institute's efforts include community-engaged research, public data literacy programs, and strategic regional partnerships. As Professor Payton explains,

“IDRIS is interested in asking, how does this impact the community and the human experience?... These require interdisciplinary approaches and collaboration.”

Dean Jacqueline Mattis further adds,

“We'll ensure opportunities for students and community members of all ages to engage in using data and technology to achieve social good. That is IDRIS.”

IDRIS is part of Rutgers' broader strategic investment in data science leadership, including the creation of a campus-wide high-performance computing cluster and a new Data Science undergraduate minor.

For more on this launch and its community-driven vision, see the NJBiz coverage of Rutgers-Newark's AI initiative for social good, the official IDRIS launch announcement detailing its mission and programs, and the university's news release highlighting IDRIS's role in advancing community wellbeing through technology.

Jersey City served as a global hub for high-performance computing and artificial intelligence this month, welcoming nearly 200 leading HPC experts to the 2025 Cray User Group (CUG) Meeting at the Westin Jersey City Newport.

Hosted by Stony Brook University from May 4–8, the dynamic event featured technical sessions, workshops, and discussions exploring the rapid evolution of supercomputing across academia, industry, and government research.

Attendees were inspired by Dr. Mike Zingale's keynote on using supercomputers to simulate stellar explosions, highlighting the crucial role of open collaboration in scientific breakthroughs.

The conference also included a thought-provoking panel on floating-point precision trade-offs for HPC and AI workloads, as well as an “Expanding Horizons in AI with HPC” workshop spotlighting the synergy between artificial intelligence and supercomputing.

The coveted Best Paper Award went to the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre for a paper on the versatile research system Alps. As noted during the opening remarks by Dr. Robert Harrison,

“Collaborative innovation is pivotal for pushing the limits of what computational science can accomplish.”

For further event details, visit the official CUG 2025 Computing Horizons conference site, explore the full conference highlights from Stony Brook University, or read the summary of this international HPC gathering to see how Jersey City is driving breakthroughs in supercomputing and AI.

As artificial intelligence cements its role in New Jersey's economic future, state and local leaders are doubling down on policies and investments designed to keep the Garden State at the forefront of tech innovation and job growth.

Major initiatives - including new AI hubs at Princeton, NJIT, and Rutgers - signal a full-court press to capture a share of what PwC forecasts as a $1.3 trillion global AI market by 2032.

Pivotal programs like TechUnited:NJ's BetterFutureLabs serve as startup cofounders, supplying capital, mentorship, and rapid product-market fit validation, while Audible's relocation to Newark and grants for startups have generated nearly $2 billion in annual economic activity.

Nonetheless, industry advocates insist that innovation must be matched by sensible, streamlined policy - especially calling for alignment with the Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) tax exemption (currently recognized by 45 other states) to boost investment and keep talent anchored locally.

The New Jersey Innovation & Technology Alliance (NJITA) is facilitating education and industry-policy collaboration through public town halls, with a focus on AI, blockchain, and Web3, further bolstered by $2.8 billion in regional venture capital investments.

As TechUnited:NJ President Aaron Price notes,

“AI is an idea being rapidly propelled into action. Propelify is about propelling ideas into action, making it a thought leader in AI.”

The convergence of public-private support, accessible capital, and a robust mentorship ecosystem is making New Jersey a magnet for founders and future-ready jobs.

For a detailed breakdown of the state's recent tech investments and workforce impact, see the table below:

To learn more about these strategic efforts, visit the NJAI Startup Growth & Economic Opportunity Update, explore how Newark's Tech Sector Is Heating Up, and view Aaron Price's vision for the future at the Propelify Innovation Festival.

Jersey City Medical Center is embracing the future of cardiology through advanced artificial intelligence (AI) tools that are transforming every stage of cardiac care, from early detection to patient follow-up.

“Similar to the way genomics has advanced cancer care, the emergence of AI is allowing cardiologists to reimagine everything we know about how the heart works and how we care for it,” explains Dr. Partho P. Sengupta, Chief of Cardiology at RWJUH and coleader of the Center for Innovation at RWJBarnabas Health.

Their program now integrates AI-driven imaging analysis, enabling rapid identification of structural heart defects, subtle signs of heart failure, and arterial blockages through deep learning algorithms, significantly improving diagnostic accuracy and speed in ways detailed by RWJBarnabas Health.

AI also supports the hospital's non-invasive vascular outpatient testing center, where machine learning helps deliver safer and more precise evaluations for a range of arterial and venous conditions using advanced imaging services.

Recent technology upgrades back this holistic care model, including the use of fractional flow reserve computed tomography (FFRCT), which minimizes patient risk and helps local clinicians better personalize treatment plans.

The ongoing expansion aligns Jersey City Medical Center with broader advancements in AI-powered cardiac diagnostics across the state, such as the deployment of 3D coronary imaging and automated ECG interpretation now recognized for improving outcomes and bringing cutting-edge care into the community thanks to the hospital's partnerships with leading academic health systems.

As Dr. Sengupta notes,

“While AI is a major focus, I prefer to define AI as ‘augmented intelligence.' That's because we will never use AI to replace doctors, nurses, and caregivers. Instead, we'll use it to augment their work.”

As Jersey City navigates new risks in the digital age, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill is spearheading a comprehensive agenda to ensure residents, especially children, are protected from online harms.

Her New Jersey Online Safety Agenda proposes an Age Appropriate Design Code, stricter oversight of social media algorithms, and robust protections against scams and copyright theft.

Sherrill, drawing on her experience as a mother and legislator, advocates for measures like warning labels on youth-targeted platforms, bans on cell phone use during school, and enhanced teaching on responsible digital citizenship.

These efforts align with pressing public health calls, as echoed by a recent WHO/Europe policy brief urging,

“We must ensure digital platforms protect mental health, not harm it, through coordinated action such as improving youth digital literacy, stronger regulation, and youth-led digital governance.”

Sherrill's leadership also advances legislation such as the Kids Online Safety Act and targeted bills to criminalize the sharing of AI-generated deepfakes, underscoring bipartisan momentum for digital safeguards (Congressional press release).

In an era where technology's power cuts both ways - offering connection but enabling exploitation - Sherrill's agenda seeks to shift the burden of proof onto industry, prioritize transparency, and empower families with the tools and knowledge to shape a safer digital future.

Jersey City continues to define the national conversation at the intersection of AI regulation and innovation, demonstrated by its proactive legislative efforts and surging tech ecosystem.

With New Jersey among the few states using existing civil rights laws to guard against algorithmic discrimination in areas like employment, housing, and healthcare, the state's Civil Rights and Technology Initiative puts meaningful legal guardrails around fast-evolving technology (AI civil rights protections in New Jersey).

At the same time, policymakers and industry leaders are advocating for policies that enable startups and innovators to thrive - balancing regulatory vigilance with accessible capital and incentives.

As highlighted by TechUnited:NJ, recent investments in AI hubs at Princeton, NJIT, and Rutgers, plus major venture studios, are spurring high-wage job creation and scalable tech businesses (New Jersey AI innovation and job growth).

Yet, this momentum faces uncertainty as Congress debates a decade-long moratorium on state AI laws, which experts warn could disadvantage both consumers and small businesses nationwide (Federal AI law moratorium analysis).

Ultimately, Jersey City's leadership underscores the importance of locally-driven, responsive governance that both protects residents and empowers bold, tech-driven entrepreneurship - ensuring innovation is not just history, but an ongoing headline for New Jersey and its growing talent base.