On October 5, the New York City Council will hold a full-chamber hearing to question executives from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and Meta regarding AI safety risks. This session, announced by Speaker Julie Menin on September 28, marks the first meeting of the entire council since 2022.
The council issued a subpoena to SpaceXAI after the company failed to respond to requests for participation. Other invited firms, including Meta, agreed to testify voluntarily. The witness list also includes national experts in consumer protection and AI safety.
The hearing follows reports of AI agents damaging municipal databases and the resignation of Anthropic employee Jacob Coxon. The council is considering three legislative proposals to regulate AI systems within city limits.
Proposed measures include mandatory third-party safety audits for AI used in public services, a financial incentive program for whistleblowers, and a private right of action for individuals harmed by malfunctioning or jailbroken AI agents.
These initiatives expand upon the city's existing oversight framework, which was established in 2025 with the creation of the Office of Algorithmic Accountability.
