New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani is calling for increased local oversight of artificial intelligence, citing a lack of federal regulation. During an event at Webster Hall, he argued that public officials must hold AI companies accountable rather than accepting the technology's rapid deployment as inevitable.
Mamdani has already implemented specific local policies to address AI usage. Last month, he issued a ban on AI tools in elementary and middle schools. Additionally, he introduced a regulation requiring real estate listings to disclose if photos or videos were generated by AI to prevent consumer deception.
The mayor criticized the current federal approach, specifically the Superintelligence Task Force established by the Trump administration, which prioritizes self-regulation for AI firms. He noted that national discourse often focuses on an arms race with China, sidelining humanistic concerns.
Mamdani highlighted risks associated with AI, referencing a February U.S. military strike in Iran that resulted in over 150 deaths, including at least 123 children. Pentagon internal investigations identified an overreliance on AI in targeting as a contributing factor to the incident.
