Google for Government hosted the Gen AI Live + Labs 2025 event at its expansive space at Pier 57 in Manhattan, bringing together key leaders from government agencies, higher education, healthcare, and more.
The event, organized by GovExec and City & State, highlighted Google’s cutting-edge artificial intelligence innovations and how AI can transform public services, positioning the company as a key player in solving real-world challenges through AI.
According to a study by Google and GovExec, revealed at the event, 94% of state and local agencies are expected to increase their AI usage over the next two years.
Brent Mitchell, Vice President of Go-to-Market at Google Public Sector, opened the conference with a strong message about Google’s commitment to integrating AI into the public sector, City and State NY reports.
“At Google, we recognize the immense potential of this moment and are deeply committed to ensuring that this innovation benefits all Americans. Our commitment goes beyond developing cutting-edge technology; we are focused on building a stronger, safer, and more competitive America in this AI era,” Mitchell stated.
Mitchell introduced Vertex AI, Google’s machine learning platform, and Gemini, the company’s multimodal generative AI model capable of performing tasks in seconds that would otherwise take much longer with human assistance.
Success Stories: How Google AI is Transforming Public Services
Mitchell shared how Google’s AI is already making an impact in government agencies:
Missouri Department of Social Services: In collaboration with AI company Quantiphi, they leveraged Gemini to streamline social benefits processing, handling 1 million applications and reducing wait times by 70%, saving a total of 12,000 worker hours.
New Hampshire Office of Employment Security: Partnering with Google, they implemented AI to personalize and enhance the unemployment claims process, improving user experience while allowing workers to focus on essential tasks.
These are just a few examples of how Google AI is modernizing the public sector and improving citizen services.
Gen AI Live Showcased AI for Public Transportation
The event also featured a pilot project with New York City Transit (NYCT), where Google Pixel smartphones and Google Cloud were used to detect track irregularities using sound waves, helping identify problems before they escalate into major failures.
“NYCT lacked real-time, automated data on track irregularities. In early 2024, they were looking for innovative ways to detect them. That’s where we came in,” explained Tricia Jamison, a Google Cloud Solutions Architect.
The Google team attached Pixel phones to the oldest subway cars using duct tape and camping straps. These devices collected:
- 335 million sensor readings
- 1 million GPS locations
- 1,200 hours of audio
All this data was processed with Google Cloud, detecting track anomalies with 92% accuracy, surpassing even the precision of human inspectors.
“The goal is not to replace subway workers, but to equip them with more advanced tools to perform their jobs more efficiently,” emphasized Robert Sarno, Assistant Chief Track Officer at NYCT.
AI and the Future of Public Sector Employment
At the state level, Dru Rai, Chief Information Officer for New York State, spoke with Elizabeth Moon, Managing Director of Customer Engineering at Google Public Sector, about the state’s commitment to AI innovation.
“We [New York State] process 250,000 transactions per minute. Without AI, it would be impossible to evaluate their quality and detect tax fraud or errors in real-time,” Rai explained.
Beyond technological implementation, the discussion focused on training public sector employees to use AI effectively and ethically, rather than replacing human jobs.
“AI should not replace people; it should strengthen their skills and improve public services,” Rai stated.
AI in Higher Education: Preparing the Next Generation
Another key topic was the role of AI in education and workforce development. During a panel on AI in universities, Ram Ramasubramanian, Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the State University of New York (SUNY), emphasized:
“AI must add real value. It’s not enough to integrate it into classrooms; it must enhance education so that its utility is unquestionable.”
Jeff Rubin, Chief Digital Officer at Syracuse University, discussed how he uses AI in his classes to support students before major exams and projects, helping them access information more efficiently.
Chrysoula Malogianni, Associate Vice President of Digital Innovation at Old Dominion University, highlighted her university’s long-standing commitment to AI, pioneering initiatives such as AI-driven interfaces tailored exclusively for their academic community.
The event also explored:
- AI’s impact on the job market
- Curriculum challenges and the future of education
- Interdisciplinary collaboration to enhance AI-powered learning
Attendees also had the chance to interact with live AI demonstrations, experiencing firsthand how these innovations are being applied.
Conclusion: Google’s AI Vision for the Public Sector
Gen AI Live + Labs 2025 made it clear that Google is not just developing advanced AI but is also applying it to benefit the public sector and society as a whole.
With initiatives in transportation, government, education, and public safety, Google is positioning itself as a leader in AI for public good, ensuring that this technology empowers workers rather than replaces them.
The key question now is: How will government agencies and universities leverage these tools to transform their services and prepare the next generation for the AI era?
