What is the NY RAISE Act and how does it affect my small business?

The RAISE Act mandates transparency and governance for AI developers and users in NY. While it targets 'frontier' models, it sets a standard for all businesses regarding incident reporting and security that most local firms should adopt to avoid future liability.

Does AI training need to be technical?

No. While some technical training is needed for IT staff, the most important training for business owners is 'Prompt Engineering' and 'Risk Awareness,' which focuses on how to use AI safely and effectively in everyday business tasks.

How often should we update our internal AI policy?

Based on current trends and New York's recent mandates, we recommend a formal review at least annually, with quarterly 'pulse checks' to account for rapid technological shifts.

What is 'Audit-Ready' AI governance?

It means having documented proof of your AI risk classifications, employee training logs, and incident response plans, ensuring that if a regulator or partner asks, you can prove your AI usage is controlled and monitored.

Training

Closing the AI Skills Gap: Why Hands-On Training is the Core of Modern Governance

By Penny · April 16, 2026 · 4 min read

Master AI training and governance to mitigate risk. Learn how PTSG helps NY businesses build practical AI skills and audit-ready frameworks.

Closing the AI Skills Gap: Why Hands-On Training is the Core of Modern Governance

Moving Beyond Theory: Why Your AI Policy Needs Practical Training

As we move through April 2026, the honeymoon phase of "exploring" AI has officially ended. For business owners and managers across Long Island and the NY metro area, the conversation has shifted from "What can AI do?" to "How do we control what it’s doing?"

Recent headlines prove that global and local authorities are no longer waiting for businesses to catch up. From KPMG’s new board-level governance principles to New York’s updated RAISE Act mandates, the message is clear: Internal AI governance is no longer optional; it is a legal and operational requirement.

At Pyramid Technology Service Group (PTSG), we’ve spent over 25 years bridging the gap between complex infrastructure and business results. We know that a policy manual sitting on a shelf doesn't protect your company. Real protection comes from hands-on AI training that empowers your team to use these tools safely, effectively, and within the lines of modern regulation.

The Governance Shift: From Regulation to Readiness

A recent report by GIOFAI highlights a critical transition occurring this month: the move toward "Enterprise Readiness." In 2025, many firms were paralyzed by a fragmented regulatory landscape. Now, successful businesses are taking control by building internal frameworks that are "audit-ready."

Governance isn't just about saying "no" to certain tools. It’s about creating a structured environment where your team understands risk classification. For example, using AI to draft an internal memo carries a different risk profile than using AI to process sensitive client data for a firm in Nassau County. Your employees need to be trained to recognize these nuances in real-time.

New York’s RAISE Act: A Local Wake-Up Call

For our local NYC and Long Island partners, the April 10 update to the RAISE Act is particularly significant. New York is now requiring specific internal governance practices, including annual framework reviews and incident response plans. Because these state-level mandates can overlap with federal policies, the complexity for business owners is skyrocketing.

This is where practical training replaces theoretical worry. When your staff is trained on cybersecurity for models and transparency protocols, compliance becomes a byproduct of their daily workflow rather than a stressful end-of-year scramble.

The KPMG Perspective: Why Boards Must Own AI Strategy

KPMG’s latest publication on AI governance principles emphasizes that oversight must happen at the highest levels. Boards can no longer delegate AI to the "IT department" and look the other way. There must be deliberate ownership of AI capabilities, backed by legally vetted use policies.

However, an executive-level policy is only as strong as the person hitting the "Enter" key. This is why PTSG focuses on applied AI skills. We help managers translate board-level goals into tactical, day-to-day operations. When your managers understand how to monitor AI deployments and report incidents—as now recommended by KPMG—your operational risk drops significantly.

3 Practical Steps for NY Business Leaders This Quarter

Establish a Cross-Functional AI Committee: Don't leave AI to IT alone. Include legal, operations, and department heads to ensure policies reflect real-world use cases.
Implement Risk-Based Classification: Train your staff to categorize AI tasks into "Low," "Medium," and "High" risk categories based on data sensitivity and public impact.
Invest in Hands-On Staff Training: Move beyond webinars. Your team needs to sit down with the tools, understand the guardrails, and practice using AI within your specific company framework.

The PTSG Advantage: Practical Training for Real-World Results

Regulation can be intimidating, but it’s also an opportunity to outpace competitors who are too afraid to innovate. By combining our 25+ years of enterprise IT infrastructure experience with cutting-edge AI software development, PTSG provides a unique perspective on governance.

We don’t just tell you what the laws are; we show your team how to work within them. Our training programs are designed for Suffolk and Nassau County businesses that want to be leaders in the AI space without sacrificing security or integrity.

Ready to bring AI skills in-house and secure your firm's future? Contact Pyramid Technology Service Group today to discuss our custom AI training and governance workshops.