NEW YORK (Diya TV) — New York City is creating a new team of technology experts to improve public services and make government easier to use. Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration says the effort will help city agencies solve everyday problems with faster and smarter digital tools.
The city will launch a new Public Interest Technology Crew, also known as the PIT Crew. The program will place technology professionals inside government agencies to build practical digital services. City leaders believe the approach will improve customer service, increase efficiency, and support the mayor’s affordability agenda.
The initiative will operate under the city’s Office of Technology and Innovation, led by Chief Technology Officer and Commissioner Lisa Gelobter. City Hall said the administration will hire 30 full-time employees across four PIT crews. The mayor’s latest fiscal budget includes $5.24 million in funding for the program.
Mamdani said the government should respond quickly to the needs of residents. He added that the new teams will solve real problems, improve city services, and make government easier for working New Yorkers to use.
The PIT crews will include product managers, software engineers, designers, user researchers,s and data specialists. Together, they will work directly with city agencies to create digital tools on faster timelines. Instead of relying on outside vendors, the city wants to develop more solutions in-house.
The first PIT Crew will partner with the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. Its first assignment will focus on helping residents cancel unwanted subscriptions. The team will build an online portal where people can easily file complaints against companies that make subscriptions difficult to end.
The project follows Mamdani’s announcement of the nation’s first “Click to Cancel” protections. City officials say the new online system will make it easier for consumers to report businesses that use confusing or costly cancellation practices.
Meanwhile, four additional PIT crews will work on projects that support the mayor’s affordability goals. City Hall said one of those teams will receive support through a partnership with The Rockefeller Foundation and the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City.
The new initiative comes as governments across the United States continue to look for better ways to improve efficiency through technology. Many agencies now explore digital tools to reduce delays, improve customer service, and streamline daily operations.
California has already moved in a similar direction. In June, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a partnership with artificial intelligence startup Anthropic. The agreement allows government employees to use the company’s AI assistant, Claude, for selected workplace tasks.
Newsom said the partnership focuses on using technology responsibly, transparently, and in ways that benefit residents. The effort also supports California’s 2025 executive order that encourages state agencies to improve efficiency.
Several California agencies have already adopted the technology. The Department of Motor Vehicles uses Claude to improve customer service and shorten wait times. In addition, the Department of Health Care Services uses the AI assistant to help with internal workflows that support Medicaid programs.
Although both states want to modernize government, New York plans to take a different path. The city will allow PIT crews to use AI-powered software engineering tools when appropriate. However, City Hall said the teams do not plan to build AI-based products or public-facing AI services at this time.
Experts say the New York model may offer a more customized approach. Rayid Ghani, a professor of machine learning and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University, said government agencies need long-term investment in technology teams. He also said agencies benefit when designers, engineers, and data experts work closely with public employees who understand residents’ needs.
According to Ghani, successful government technology projects depend on teamwork and careful planning. He believes technology experts should become part of agency operations instead of working separately. That approach, he said, helps teams identify problems early and build practical solutions.
For now, New York City’s PIT Crew represents another step in the growing effort to modernize public services. City leaders hope the program will deliver faster digital tools, improve government efficiency,y and make everyday services easier for residents. The long-term success of the initiative, however, will depend on how well the new teams meet the needs of New Yorkers while delivering reliable and affordable public services.
