The week in New York technology, read and picked by hand. No algorithm, nothing in here because someone paid for it.
Tuesday · · 6 minute read
General Intuition raises $220 million for AI
Photograph: Tech:NYC
General Intuition has raised over $650 million in the past year. The company is building a new class of models designed to perceive, predict, and act in virtual and physical environments. This approach focuses on teaching machines to 'play' to acquire a general intuition of reality.
The company argues that while modern AI is often trained on language archives, true intelligence requires interaction and exploration, much like human learning through play. Christopher Mims, writing in WSJ, stated, "Today’s AIs are book smart. Everything they know they learned from available language, images, and videos. To evolve further, they have to get street smart." General Intuition is onboarding a small number of partners to its commercial API and plans to make its models more broadly available soon.
New York City AI companies attracted 21.4 billion dollars in venture capital funding from 2018 to 2022. This substantial investment supports a broader tech sector in the city, which currently employs 360,000 people. Within this workforce, 40,000 workers in the NYC region possess AI skills, indicating a concentration of talent for artificial intelligence development.
The city's tech ecosystem is actively fostered by initiatives such as Tech:NYC, which is supported by NYCEDC. This programme brings together hundreds of founders, investors, and policymakers. Their shared mission is to establish the five boroughs as an ideal location for technology to thrive. The belief is that AI flourishes when engineers meet industry, with New York City positioned as a place where minds can make an impact.
Capitolis raises $120 million Series E at $1.9 billion valuation
Photograph: Capitolis
Capitolis announced $220 million in financing, which included a $120 million Series E round. This Series E round valued the company at $1.9 billion. Investors in this round included Bank of America, Barclays, BNP Paribas, Citi, J.P. Morgan, Nomura, State Street, UBS, and Tradeweb.
The company operates as a financial technology firm. It focuses on unlocking capital constraints within financial markets. Capitolis offers solutions such as its Capital Marketplace, which connects global banks with institutional investors. Its Portfolio Optimization service helps clients reduce capital requirements and costs by offsetting redundant positions. Capitolis reports working with over 100 of the world’s largest institutions.
New York City's largest battery storage project has broken ground in East New York. The Brooklyn Battery Energy Storage Project, developed by MicroGrid Networks across six sites, will deliver 30 megawatts and 150 megawatt-hours. It aims to prevent blackouts, reduce utility bills, and support air conditioning use during heatwaves.
Representatives from Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, and Meta, alongside other tech industry members, testified at a New York City Council hearing on AI regulation and innovation. Tech:NYC expressed concern that proposed legislation could expose startups to $25,000 penalties and lawsuits over AI models they did not build.
Major AI companies testify at NYC Council AI safety hearing
Representatives from Anthropic, Google, OpenAI, and Meta testified at a New York City Council AI safety hearing. Former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon warned, "the industry does not fully understand the risks of AI development." The City Council is considering proposals, including a "kill switch" for rogue AI systems.
On Monday, October 8, 2026, the New York City Council held a nearly 12-hour hearing on artificial intelligence. The hearing took testimony on a package of proposals concerning AI model safety, transparency rules, cybersecurity, employment impacts, and AI use across city government.
The Council’s proposed legislation could impact startups and AI-powered small businesses. Several bills under consideration pose requirements that may be difficult for young companies to meet. One bill would prohibit deploying an AI model without third-party validation, potentially penalising startups for models they did not build. Julie Samuels, President and CEO of Tech:NYC, stated, "A startup should be accountable for the decisions it makes and the products it builds, not be put in the position of guaranteeing how another company trained a model or certifying technical work it cannot see." Tech:NYC raised these issues at the hearing.
New saloon-style gates at 20 pilot stations in NYC led to an average 35% reduction in fare evasion. The MTA plans to install these gates at 50 additional stations by the end of next year. A further 150 stations are expected to receive them by 2029, with an anticipated spend exceeding $1 billion.
NYC Comic Con 2026 returned to the Javits Center this week, drawing thousands of fans. The event, celebrating its 20th anniversary, runs from Thursday through Sunday with a Coney Island theme. ReedPop, the producer, expects 250,000 attendees over the weekend.
Fallon Prinzivalli, marketing director for ReedPop, highlighted the importance of in-person gatherings. She stated, "there's nothing like the energy and vibrancy of this audience and being here in person." While tickets for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are sold out, some regular entry tickets for Thursday remain available at $104. The show floor is open until 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and until 5 p.m. on Sunday.
The MTA is replacing 29-year-old track switches near Marcy Avenue. This will cause major service disruptions for the J and M subway lines over five weekends this fall. J service will stop between Myrtle Av-Broadway and Manhattan. M service will be split.
Reported by secretnyc.co, via Tech:NYC, 2026-10-07
US tech job postings increased by 9% month-over-month in September 2026, following a 2% decrease in August. This represents a 17% rise compared to September 2025. New York was among the top 10 states for year-over-year growth and saw an increase in September after a decline in August.
The report details a focus on implementing AI and enterprise system projects. High month-over-month growth was seen in roles such as Security Architects, Automation Controls Engineers, and Quality Assurance Specialists. Skills like Agentic AI, Responsible AI, and Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure showed substantial year-over-year growth. Demand also extends to Electronic Engineering and Autodesk Revit, suggesting a need for professionals involved in physical AI infrastructure development.
Stripe processed $1.9T in 2025, rebuilding for AI agents
Stripe processed $1.9 trillion in 2025, a 34% increase. The company is reorienting its operations for an internet where AI agents increasingly conduct transactions. Stripe also reports its highest rate of new firm creation recently, with its 2026 Atlas cohort showing five times the revenue of the 2025 class.
Reported by Molly O'Shea, 2026-10-05
AI could undermine digital signatures before quantum computers
Justin Drake has issued a warning that artificial intelligence systems could compromise the digital signatures which authorise cryptocurrency transactions. He urged that preparations be made for "bunker mode" to address this risk, noting it could emerge before quantum computers pose a similar threat to these systems.
An OpenAI insider has publicly discussed his decision to leave the company. He detailed his reasons for quitting during an interview. This conversation took place on The Ezra Klein Show, which is produced by The New York Times.
The lead for OpenAI's Dots, which is a team focused on the future of ChatGPT, participated in a conversation with Alex Heath. This discussion covered upcoming developments and strategic directions for the widely used AI model.
Reported by Sources, 2026-10-01
Editor's note
9% increase in Tech job postings for September, 88% increase in AI skills related postings.
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