Friday, July 31, 2026
Welcome to another Friday edition of the Tech:NYC Digest, featuring our favorite five highlights in New York and tech this week.
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The AI bet: Building for the future and where does New York go from here? (City & State)
To close out season two of the “Tech in the Cities” podcast, Empire AI Executive Director Kiran Keshav and Met Council CEO David G. Greenfield joined Tech:NYC President & CEO Julie Samuels and City & State publisher Tom Allon to explore what New York needs to lead in AI, why broader adoption matters, and how organizations across the state are already putting these tools to work. 🤖
The new robot cutting grass in Riverside Park South: Meet the Spider (West Side Rag)
Somewhere Peter Parker is smiling. Riverside Park South now uses a remote-controlled 635-pound “Spider” mower to trim its steep hillsides, becoming the first park in New York City to deploy the technology. 🤖🍃
The specialized mower replaces hours of physically demanding — and sometimes dangerous — manual work.
Parks officials say the time saved means gardeners can focus on other improvements throughout the park.
A newsstand that aims to delight NYC subway riders (New York Times)
Your commute is about to get a little weirder in the best possible way. A vacant newsstand in the West 4th Street station has been transformed into a free, transit-themed art installation featuring subway trivia, quirky giveaways, puppet shows, and other surprises. 🚇
Created by comedian Al Mullen, the project aims to bring a little delight to daily commutes and remind New Yorkers that the subway can be more than just a way to get from A to B.
Together with The Atlantic 🤝
This September 17-19, The Atlantic Festival returns to New York for three days of newsmaking conversations, exclusive screenings, book talks, and performances you won’t find anywhere else.
Where politics meets culture, where technology meets human ingenuity, and where debate can sharpen understanding. Prepare to meet great minds who don’t think alike.
Register here and get $100 off your one-day or two-day pass with code TECHNYC.
‘Wild Inside’ chronicles how Flaco the owl became a New York City folk hero (WBUR)
New York’s favorite owl is getting the documentary treatment. Wild Inside chronicles how Flaco, the Eurasian eagle-owl who escaped the Central Park Zoo, learned to survive in Manhattan and became an unlikely folk hero. 🦉
Using footage captured by photographers and everyday New Yorkers, the film explores Flaco’s extraordinary journey, the community that rallied around him, and the challenges wildlife faces in urban environments.
Stuck with an empty storefront? Make it art (New York Times)
Artists across New York are transforming empty stores, malls, and offices into temporary galleries, bringing new energy to spaces that might otherwise sit vacant. 🎨
The exhibitions have drawn hundreds of visitors, and in some cases, helped spark new leasing interest from prospective tenants.
Have an artsy weekend, New York! 🧑🎨
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