This Month's Latest Tech News in Jersey City, NJ - Wednesday April 30th 2025 Edition

This month, Jersey City made headlines as Governor Phil Murphy signed groundbreaking legislation to criminalize the malicious creation and distribution of AI-generated “deepfakes,” demonstrating the city's pivotal role in national tech regulation.

The bipartisan law, inspired by advocates like Westfield High School's Francesca Mani, targets deceptive audio or visual media used in harassment, extortion, or election misinformation, and imposes severe penalties - including up to five years' imprisonment and fines up to $30,000, with victims also able to pursue civil lawsuits.

As noted in Fortune's coverage of the new deepfake crime law, New Jersey now joins over 20 states regulating AI-generated media, while local leadership affirms the measure will protect both individual privacy and democratic integrity.

Governor Murphy underscored the commitment:

“I am proud to sign today's legislation and take a stand against deceptive and dangerous deepfakes. While artificial intelligence has proven to be a powerful tool, it must be used responsibly.”

For a detailed look at the law's background and bipartisan support, see Insider NJ's breakdown of the penalties and key quotes, and visit U.S. News' report on how this sets a national precedent.

Jersey City's embrace of responsible tech regulation signals a transformative era for both local residents and the tech industry statewide.

New Jersey has established a groundbreaking precedent by enacting a law that criminalizes the creation and distribution of malicious AI-generated deepfakes, inspired by the efforts of high school student Francesca Mani after she and dozens of classmates were victimized by non-consensual explicit imagery.

The legislation, signed by Governor Phil Murphy, introduces robust penalties - including up to five years in prison and fines reaching $30,000 - and provides legal recourse for victims to pursue civil damages.

As highlighted in the Associated Press coverage of AI deepfake criminalization in New Jersey, the law makes the production or dissemination of deceptive AI media with harmful intent a third-degree crime - positioning the state as a leader among at least 20 states responding to the threats posed by deepfakes.

Majority Leader Lou Greenwald explained,

“Deepfakes have the potential to cause irreparable harm when used for criminal purposes...this legislation takes a proactive approach to technological advancements and will safeguard New Jersey residents.”

The new law not only addresses digital sexual exploitation but also targets deepfakes that could undermine election integrity.

Mani, recognized as one of TIME's most influential figures in AI, powerfully stated, “Doing nothing is no longer an option” as she called for greater accountability.

For a full overview of the law's key provisions and community response, read the PhillyVoice report on New Jersey's deepfake law or visit BABL AI's breakdown of the deepfake regulations.

The move signifies New Jersey's leadership in protecting digital privacy and setting enforceable standards for technology accountability.

Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill is driving a comprehensive legislative agenda in New Jersey to ensure children's online safety and address emerging risks posed by artificial intelligence.

In her New Jersey Online Safety Agenda, Sherrill outlines plans for an Age Appropriate Design Code, mandatory mental health warning labels on social platforms, cell phone restrictions in schools, and expanded curriculum on ethical technology use - all aimed at curbing youth exposure to addictive algorithms, cyberbullying, and misinformation.

Notably, she has advocated for bipartisan federal bills like the Kids Online Safety Act and the Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act to give guardians greater control and shield students from the non-consensual spread of AI-altered content in the wake of high-profile local incidents.

As Sherrill emphasizes,

“This is a real crisis that demands action – I urge Speaker Johnson to allow the full House to consider these bills as soon as the House is in session.”

To support responsible AI deployment, the agenda also proposes strict requirements for AI transparency, detection tools for synthetic media, and protections for creative professionals from unauthorized AI use.

For further insight into Sherrill's efforts to legislate online safety and counter misinformation, read her statement on children's digital safety legislation on her official House press release, and explore broader debates in Congress around children's internet protections and algorithmic accountability in the TechCongress insights on tech policy.

This month, Jersey City's local schools and districts across New Jersey are making significant advances in AI-powered education, following the state's new allocation of $1.5 million in grants.

The initiative, funded through Governor Phil Murphy's fiscal 2025 budget, targets both K-12 districts and vocational schools to integrate artificial intelligence into classrooms for individualized tutoring, teacher training, and the development of AI-focused curricula, including ethics and maker spaces.

According to GovTech article on New Jersey AI education grants, nine districts received $75,000 each and another was awarded $72,805 to pilot generative AI tools and training.

Additionally, county vocational districts in Mercer and Middlesex secured grants totaling over $700,000 to expand pathways in robotics, computing theory, and natural language processing.

The following table summarizes this month's grant distribution:

State leaders emphasize not only technical skill-building but also the need for responsible, equitable implementation.

As New Jersey Chief AI Strategist Beth Simone Noveck put it,

“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.”

To learn more about how these grants are fostering AI-driven learning opportunities and career readiness, visit Morristown Minute's coverage of NJ DOE AI grants and the latest The Sun Papers report on New Jersey Department of Education AI initiatives.

Rutgers-Newark has officially launched the Institute for Data, Research, and Innovation Science (IDRIS), a new hub focused on harnessing data science, artificial intelligence, and interdisciplinary research to tackle pressing urban challenges and advance equity in New Jersey communities.

Unveiled at an event on April 14, 2025, IDRIS brings together academic leaders, policymakers, and community partners to drive innovation in areas such as healthcare, public safety, education, and public administration.

Executive Director Fay Cobb Payton emphasized,

“IDRIS is interested in asking, how does this impact the community and the human experience?”

The institute, funded by a ROADMAPS grant and aligned with the governor's AI policy recommendations, also prioritizes data literacy and workforce innovation through training for students and public engagement.

The effort aims to expand the application of emerging technologies - such as AI, augmented reality, and wearables - while engaging with local, state, and corporate stakeholders.

For more on the institute's mission and launch event details, visit the official Rutgers-Newark announcement for IDRIS launch, the NJ Biz feature on Rutgers-Newark's community-focused AI initiative, and the IDRIS event page for news and upcoming programs.

IDRIS is poised to build on New Jersey's reputation as a leader in responsible tech and innovation, extending its impact well beyond Newark.

Artificial intelligence has taken a bold step into New Jersey's political arena as Rep. Josh Gottheimer launched a multimillion-dollar TV and digital ad featuring AI-generated imagery of himself boxing former President Trump - a symbolic "fight" that underscores his campaign's stance on issues like taxes and senior benefits.

Labeled with a visible “AI Generated Imagery” disclaimer, the ad is among the first major political ads in the U.S. to employ generative AI so prominently; approximately 80% of its visuals, including scenes of a youthful Gottheimer sparring in the ring, were crafted using this technology.

“As Governor, I'll battle Trump when he messes with Jersey families and fight to get taxes and costs down. I'm not afraid to get in the ring and go as many rounds as needed until we win,” Gottheimer asserts, highlighting his legislative record and his pledge to cut property taxes by 15% and lower costs for seniors.

This campaign innovation has sparked both ethical debate and growing consensus that AI, when transparently disclosed, can enhance storytelling - prompting state lawmakers to consider new regulations requiring such disclaimers.

Political financiers have taken notice as well; over $36 million has been spent on ad campaigns so far, with pro-Gottheimer super PACs accounting for a significant share of that total.

As campaign tactics increasingly leverage AI, the ad sets a potential precedent for the future of digital political strategy in New Jersey and beyond. For further analysis and reactions, see NBC News' report on the pioneering AI political ad, a deep dive from New Jersey Globe on campaign ethics and transparency, and PCMag's take on the broader implications of AI image generation in elections.

New Jersey has taken a bold step in regulating AI-driven misinformation, as Governor Phil Murphy signed a bipartisan bill classifying the creation and sharing of deceptive deepfake media for unlawful purposes as a third-degree crime - punishable by up to five years in prison and fines up to $30,000.

The legislation, broadly supported by lawmakers and advocacy groups, was propelled by the story of Francesca Mani, a Westfield High School junior honored in Time magazine's 100 most influential people in AI for her activism after being targeted by a sexually explicit deepfake.

As Governor Murphy remarked, “Just about any bad actor can use artificial intelligence to produce hyper-realistic images and videos that can exploit children, teenagers, and, frankly, anyone.” Mani added in her advocacy,

“Then I'll bring you a law. Well, Westfield High School, this one's for you. Doing nothing is no longer an option, Ms. Asfendis.”

The statute imposes both civil and criminal penalties and establishes a legal framework for victims to sue offenders, joining a nationwide trend in which over 20 states have enacted similar laws to combat AI-generated election misinformation and intimate imagery.

For a detailed breakdown, see the table below:

This landmark law, covered by the New Jersey Monitor and highlighted in Fortune's analysis, reflects a growing recognition that technological leadership in Jersey must be paired with robust safeguards for digital safety.

AI-powered bus lane enforcement is rapidly gaining momentum across major metro regions, targeting congestion and improving public transit reliability. Powered by innovative companies like Hayden AI, these systems are being adopted by leading transit agencies from New York City and Los Angeles to Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. The cameras, mounted inside bus windshields, use advanced image analysis to identify and document vehicles illegally blocking lanes or stops - a practice that has long delayed thousands of riders and impeded wheelchair access.

In Los Angeles, nearly 10,000 tickets were issued in just one month after deployment, a sharp increase from the 570 monthly citations previously issued by officers, underscoring the system's efficiency (AI bus cameras issue 10,000 tickets in a month in L.A.).

Philadelphia is set to introduce AI bus lane enforcement on 150 buses and over 20 trolleys, with a two-week warning period preceding active ticketing and fines of $101 for parking violations, a move expected to both alleviate congestion and improve accessibility for people with disabilities (SEPTA and PPA will start using AI cameras in May to enforce bus lanes).

According to Hayden AI, New York's MTA has seen a 5% rise in bus speeds and a 20% reduction in collisions on equipped routes, with 90% of ticketed drivers refraining from repeat violations (Using AI to reduce bus lane blocking in major cities).

These promising outcomes are accompanied by calls for robust oversight, after technical missteps resulted in erroneous ticketing, fueling an ongoing conversation around accountability and the responsible integration of AI in public life.

“It's changing behavior, which is what we want. And it's speeding up our buses.” - Richard Davey, Former President, NYC MTA

The New Jersey Attorney General's office has issued groundbreaking guidance clarifying that the state's Law Against Discrimination (LAD) fully applies to algorithmic bias and automated decision-making tools used in hiring and employment.

This move, part of the new Civil Rights and Technology Initiative, addresses growing concerns about the risk of both intentional and inadvertent discrimination from artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.

Employers across New Jersey - which, according to a recent survey, use AI in 63% of recruitment or hiring processes - now face clear liabilities: they can be held responsible for discriminatory outcomes even if they did not develop the tool themselves or had no intent to discriminate.

The LAD covers a wide range of protected characteristics, including race, religion, age, gender identity, and disability, and prohibits practices leading to disparate treatment or impact as well as failures to provide reasonable accommodations.

As emphasized in the guidance,

“the LAD applies to algorithmic discrimination in the same way it has long applied to other discriminatory conduct”

.

Employers are advised to perform careful due diligence, conduct regular bias audits, and retain human oversight in automated processes. The state has also launched a Civil Rights Innovation Lab to develop responsible deployment protocols and enhance enforcement and public education.

For further practical steps and legal recommendations for compliance, see the detailed analysis of employer obligations in the Cole Schotz advisory on New Jersey AI guidance and the guidance's implications summarized in the Lexology review of New Jersey's LAD and AI.

Construction tech companies are rapidly scaling up AI adoption to address productivity, safety, and project management challenges across the industry, with New Jersey-based EarthCam emerging as a key innovator.

This month EarthCam launched Control Center 9, an advanced software suite that integrates AI-powered visual intelligence, real-time alerts, and compliance automation for job sites, enabling contractors to detect over 85 onsite equipment types and monitor materials, deliveries, and workforce safety via natural language queries and high-resolution panoramic imagery.

EarthCam's latest security systems, demonstrated at ISC West 2025, feature multidirectional monitoring, AI object detection, 360° visual intelligence, and live central station response - aimed at reducing theft, liability, and false alarms.

Industry-leading safety and security solutions were met with praise by construction leaders:

“It's just a good service to have, if it's for insurance reasons or even just for security... I could argue that it probably saved us money. If my budget allows and I'm able to use it on every job, I would take it with me every time.” - Bryan Shephard, Senior Project Manager at Pike Construction Services

EarthCam's AI platform not only streamlines insurance and claims management but also supports advanced project health metrics such as readiness, activity, and stress using dashboard analytics.

Industry experts cite AI's growing role in automating workflows, enabling proactive risk mitigation, and improving coordination on complex sites. For a breakdown of recent innovations driving this transformation, see the table below, or explore more detail in this deep dive on construction-sector AI innovation and ENR's feature on EarthCam's material-tracking AI.

Regional collaboration is accelerating the expansion of AI for social good across transit and digital equity initiatives in Jersey City and neighboring cities.

NJ TRANSIT, working alongside Rutgers University's Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT), recently secured a $1.6 million federal grant to deploy AI-powered safety systems at light rail grade crossings - collecting data to reduce rail accidents and promote safer communities statewide, as detailed in this official announcement on NJ TRANSIT's AI initiative.

Meanwhile, Philadelphia has emerged as the eighth major U.S. city to utilize Hayden AI's camera technology on over 150 buses and trolleys, enhancing transit accessibility and reducing illegal parking obstructions, a move lauded as “hugely gratifying” by Hayden AI's leadership in this detailed partnership overview.

Additionally, municipalities and transit agencies in northern New Jersey can access new grants to fund innovative shuttle and micromobility services, furthering the region's commitment to cleaner, smarter mobility (apply through the NJTPA Local Mobility Initiatives Program).

These concurrent efforts not only foster safer, more efficient transit but demonstrate how regional cooperation and public funding are driving technology adoption for the benefit of all residents.

Jersey City's emergence as a leader in responsible AI innovation is underscored by a blend of proactive legislation, workforce initiatives, and targeted investments.

New Jersey recently made headlines with its bipartisan law criminalizing the creation and dissemination of deceptive deepfake media - a measure inspired by real-world harms and now punishable by up to five years in prison, accompanied by civil recourse for victims.

As Fortune details, this makes New Jersey among the first states to offer robust penalties and clear definitions for AI-generated deception.

Meanwhile, the state is balancing regulation and innovation: the $500 million Next New Jersey Program - AI fuels development of large-scale AI infrastructure while prioritizing job creation and public/private partnerships, directly positioning New Jersey as the East Coast AI hub, according to Government Technology.

Coupled with forward-looking workforce policies such as the AI Apprenticeship Program and ongoing anti-bias guidance for employers, these efforts reflect local leaders' commitment to both equity and economic growth.

As summarized by the New Jersey Innovation and Technology Alliance,

“We should continue to build on this commitment with a policy environment that supports the entrepreneurial ecosystem… Rules that are overly broad or difficult to interpret raise the cost of compliance. That makes it harder for smaller startups to participate and easier for larger incumbents to consolidate their position. Our local innovators should be focused on their game-changing inventions, not hiring lawyers.”

(see InsiderNJ).

In sum, through regulation designed for fairness, strategic economic incentives, and a broadened talent pipeline, Jersey City and New Jersey at large are defining what responsible, people-centered AI advancement looks like in 2025 and beyond.