New Jersey business leaders says AI adoption is outpacing governance policies
New Jersey business leaders warn that AI adoption is accelerating faster than governance policies, raising concerns around ethics, risk.
JERSEY CITY, N.J. Feb. 4, 2026
Business and technology leaders on a recent NJBIZ virtual panel said companies are adopting generative AI faster than many organizations are putting formal controls in place, raising concerns about legal exposure, security, and reputation risk.
The discussion was convened by NJBIZ on January 28 and recapped in NJBIZ coverage published February 2. Panelists included Michael Abboud, CEO of TetherView; Nicholas Duston, a member at Norris McLaughlin; Jason Gulya, a professor at Berkeley College; and Doug Nesler, director of AI at Vertilocity.
During the panel, speakers focused on the risks of unmanaged AI use inside organizations, including unclear policies on what data employees may enter into AI tools, how AI-generated work should be reviewed, and who is accountable when AI-assisted outputs reach customers.
Panelists also pointed to compliance and security issues that can become high-stakes quickly in sensitive environments, citing healthcare-related privacy concerns such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) as one example raised during the discussion.
The panel comes as New Jersey continues to promote innovation-led growth. In late December, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority cited an independent analysis projecting that startups formed and developed through the state’s 12 Strategic Innovation Centers could generate $17.2 billion in economic output, support 28,000 jobs, and contribute $427 million in total annual tax revenue over a decade. The NJEDA analysis described AI as a core growth sector, alongside areas such as life sciences and advanced manufacturing.
Several large employers headquartered in New Jersey have also publicly described “responsible AI” approaches in recent materials. ADP, based in Roseland, highlights governance and privacy-related practices in its responsible AI positioning. Cognizant, headquartered in Teaneck, publishes responsible AI principles that emphasize fairness, transparency, safety, and accountability. Prudential has also published ethical AI principles that include governance and controls as a stated requirement.
NJBIZ’s coverage of the January 28 panel noted that as AI use expands beyond pilots into everyday workflows, organizations face increasing pressure to formalize rules for data handling, review, and oversight.
