New York City is redefining urban governance through technology.
At the heart of this transformation is the Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI), which leads the city’s digital strategy.
Formed in 2022 by consolidating IT, data, and innovation functions under a single Chief Technology Officer, OTI delivers user-centered solutions that simplify access to city services while driving innovation across government operations.
The city’s approach rests on a clear vision: “New York City, embracing the future, powered by innovative and secure technology that supports all.”
OTI’s 2022 Strategic Plan—still guiding efforts as of 2026—outlines five core priorities: building a connected city, advancing digital service delivery, harnessing the power of data, fostering tech innovation for all, and enhancing technology resiliency. These priorities emphasize equity, efficiency, and resident-focused design, ensuring technology benefits every New Yorker.
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Download the Closing the Digital Divide: Equity at the Core
NYC is a national leader in digital inclusion. In March 2025, OTI released the city’s first Digital Equity Roadmap, a comprehensive plan with 11 initiatives to expand broadband, boost digital literacy, and coordinate cross-agency efforts. It addresses persistent gaps in access, devices, and skills, particularly in underserved communities.
Key programs include:
- Big Apple Connect, which delivers free high-speed internet and basic cable to over 330,000 NYCHA public housing residents across 220 developments. The program was extended through 2028, with adoption rates exceeding 81%.
- NYC Connected Communities, a large-scale initiative providing digital literacy training and employment resources in historically underserved neighborhoods.
- Device distribution partnerships, such as the 2025–2026 rollout of 350,000 internet-enabled Chromebooks to public school students in collaboration with T-Mobile and Dell Technologies.
In April 2026, OTI launched the “Get Online NYC” campaign, featuring a new website (nyc.gov/getonline), interactive map, and multilingual resources to help residents locate free Wi-Fi, computer centers, tech classes, and device lending at more than 450 citywide sites. This builds directly on the Digital Equity Roadmap and earned NYC the National Digital Inclusion Alliance’s Visionary Trailblazer award.
These efforts ensure broadband, devices, and skills reach all New Yorkers, powering economic opportunity and civic participation.
Streamlining Services: MyCity, NYC.gov, and the Digital Design System
OTI is modernizing how residents interact with government. The flagship MyCity portal (mycity.nyc.gov) serves as a one-stop digital hub for services and benefits. Launched in phases starting March 2023, it first digitized childcare applications and has since expanded. By mid-2025, it processed over 120,000 applications and recertifications, dramatically increasing online submissions and eligibility tracking while reducing administrative burdens.
Complementing this is the redesigned nyc.gov, which launched with a 22% increase in page views in early Fiscal 2026. The site was co-created with New Yorkers through extensive user testing.
Underpinning these platforms is the NYC Digital Design System—a shared library of accessible, reusable components, brand guidelines, and content standards. It enables city teams to build consistent, trustworthy, and inclusive digital products faster and at lower cost. The new nyc.gov is built entirely on this system, setting a new benchmark for government digital experiences.
NYC311 continues to evolve with better integration and reliability, while NextGen 911 upgrades emergency communications for voice, text, and multimedia resilience.
Data, AI, and Cloud: Powering Smarter Government
OTI is harnessing data and emerging technologies responsibly. The NYCData platform and NYCStat tools deliver real-time analytics and self-service dashboards for data-driven decisions. NYC Open Data has seen explosive growth—API views up 34%, website views up 61%, and downloads up 59%—fueled by events like Open Data Week and training programs.
In October 2023, NYC released the nation’s first comprehensive Artificial Intelligence Action Plan, outlining 37 commitments for responsible AI adoption across 18 agencies. By 2025, the city had addressed 35 of 37 goals and expanded algorithmic tools from 16 to 46, supporting areas like public health, child welfare, education, and emergency response. In 2025, OTI advanced generative AI guidance and computer vision oversight policies, with updates planned for early 2026 to unify agency protocols under clear safety and innovation principles.
Cloud modernization has migrated dozens of legacy applications, improving security, reliability, and scalability while cutting costs and enabling faster innovation.
Building the Innovation Ecosystem
OTI is positioning NYC as a global tech hub. Workforce initiatives expand tech training, internships, and partnerships with schools and universities, targeting underrepresented communities. Programs like IncubateNYC create innovation hubs and testbeds for emerging technologies such as blockchain.
LinkNYC remains a standout success, delivering free public Wi-Fi to millions and seeing 16% subscriber growth through ongoing investments.
Cybersecurity, infrastructure automation, and procurement reforms (BuyIT) further strengthen the city’s resilient foundation.
A Model for 21st-Century Cities
NYC Digital is more than a collection of tools—it is a comprehensive strategy that puts residents first. From free internet in public housing to AI-powered services and intuitive digital portals, OTI’s work is closing divides, streamlining government, and fostering inclusive innovation.
As technology evolves, New York City continues to lead with bold, equitable, and forward-thinking policies. Whether applying for childcare through MyCity, finding free Wi-Fi via Get Online NYC, or benefiting from smarter public services powered by responsible AI, New Yorkers are experiencing a government that is more accessible, responsive, and innovative than ever.
The future is digital—and in NYC, it is being built for everyone. For the latest on these initiatives, visit nyc.gov/oti or explore MyCity and Get Online NYC today.
