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MANHATTAN (W) — The New York City Council is considering a series of bills aimed at establishing safeguards for Artificial Intelligence as city leaders raise concerns about the potential risks of the rapidly developing technology.
The council held what was described as the first hearing of its kind in the nation Monday, with lawmakers examining the use and consequences of AI.
Council Speaker Julie Menin argued that the industry should not be left to regulate itself.
“The idea that the AI industry is going to self-regulate defies all reason. We don’t ask the airline industry to self-regulate. That’s why we have the FAA. And if there is an accident, there is an independent body that investigates. We don’t ask financial firms to self-regulate. They’re regulated by the SEC and other agencies,” Menin said.
Artificial intelligence offers the potential for significant advances but also poses risks, particularly in New York City, a center of global finance and media.
In the absence of federal efforts to manage and regulate the growth of AI, city leaders say New York must take action on its own. The council is considering a series of 10 bills designed to establish guardrails.
Council member Frank Morano said lawmakers should establish rules before people are harmed.
“Innovation and accountability aren’t enemies. We’ve had this debate before for every major technology. First comes the breakthrough, then comes the excitement. Then usually after people get hurt, come the rules. I’d rather get the rules right before the damage is done.”
The council is hearing from representatives of Google, OpenAI, Meta and Anthropic, as well as whistleblowers who are raising concerns about unregulated AI.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani praised the city’s decision to restrict and regulate generative AI in public schools and said the issue ultimately requires action at the national level.
“I think that the place where we need the most urgent response to this is at the national level. And I do think that the consistent framing of AI in the context of being in an arms race with China loses sight of the fact that this will have an impact on New Yorkers at every level of of their lives as well as Americans, frankly. And it already is.”
A Meta spokesperson issued a statement ahead of the hearing:
“At Meta, we are working to make personal superintelligence widely accessible so that it empowers people in ways that improve their lives – and safety is core to everything we do. We voluntarily came to the table today because earning public confidence requires rigorous safety work, transparency, and a willingness to engage proactively with policymakers.”
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