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Merrill Baumgardner Innovation in Information Technology Award

New York State Earns National Recognition for IT Innovation

WASHINGTON – The National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) honored the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) with the prestigious Merrill Baumgardner Innovation in Information Technology Award, presented by the Technology Committee, at the 2024 Winter Policy Forum in Washington, D.C. This award recognizes states demonstrating excellence and innovation in information technology.

The NYSDOL received the award for its M-AI-N Attractions: Perkins & Virtual Agent, a web-based chatbot and telephony platform. The Perkins chatbot uses Google Artificial Intelligence (AI) and is available in 13 languages. Perkins is available to users 24 hours a day and any unresolved issues are assigned a case for agent assistance.

Perkins allows authenticated users to submit claim-specific requests, issues, and inquiries without the need to speak to a representative. With the Virtual Agent, system navigation has been cut in half while recording over one million total conversations since its July 2023 inception.

“The New York State Department of Labor has developed a pair of excellent AI-powered services that are sure to help meet the needs of its clients,” NASWA President and CEO Scott B. Sanders said. “These innovations allow access to services no matter the time of day and provide a quick, easy way to access information for claimants.”

“This award underscores our agency’s commitment to leveraging advanced technology to enhance the accessibility and efficiency of our services,” New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said. “The Perkins chatbot and Virtual Agent embody our dedication to providing exceptional service to New Yorkers, breaking language barriers, and ensuring support is available around the clock.”

For more information, visit NASWA’s Winter Policy Forum and Technology Committee webpages.
 

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About the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (www.naswa.org): NASWA is the national organization representing all 50 state workforce agencies, District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. These agencies deliver training, employment, career, business, and wage and hour services, in addition to administering unemployment insurance, veteran reemployment, and labor market information programs. NASWA provides policy expertise, shares promising state practices, and promotes state innovation and leadership in workforce development.

About the New York State Department of Labor (dol.ny.gov): The New York State Department of Labor’s mission is to provide outstanding services to our customers - the workers and businesses that call New York home. We help New Yorkers find the careers they will love by connecting them to employment, training, and up-skilling opportunities. We build and support New York’s businesses, helping them find qualified workers and keeping them informed about tools and incentives to make their businesses thrive. We empower and protect New York’s workers by supporting the unemployed and by ensuring all workers have a safe workplace where they receive a fair wage.