New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and activist Ilana Glazer spoke at Webster Hall in Manhattan on Monday night, urging New Yorkers to push back against the rapid and unregulated rollout of artificial intelligence. Mamdani argued that the federal government has abdicated its responsibility to regulate the technology, leaving local municipalities to step in and hold AI companies accountable. The event, titled The People's AI Assembly, was hosted by the AI Now Institute think tank.
Mamdani pointed to recent local actions he has taken to counter the unchecked spread of the technology, including banning AI use in elementary and middle schools last month. Over the summer, he also introduced a policy requiring landlords and real estate platforms to disclose AI-generated listing photos and videos to prevent deceptive housing practices. During the discussion, Mamdani criticized the federal government's focus on an AI arms race with China and questioned the influence of major companies aiming for public market valuations.
This local pushback highlights a growing tension between municipal leaders and federal policies that favor industry self-regulation amid mounting societal concerns.