New York City mayor urges public pushback against unchecked AI adoption and federal inaction

Mayor Zohran Mamdani of New York City argued that the federal government has abdicated its responsibility to regulate artificial intelligence and urged residents to push back against the idea that AI’s rapid rollout is inevitable. Speaking at The People’s AI Assembly, an event hosted by the AI Now Institute, Mamdani said public officials should hold AI companies accountable rather than accepting AI as an unstoppable force.

Mamdani announced a ban on AI use in elementary and middle schools, citing concerns about the technology’s rapid and unchecked adoption. He also introduced a policy requiring landlords, brokers, and real estate platforms to disclose when property listing photos or videos are AI-generated, aiming to protect New Yorkers from misleading listings.

He criticized the framing of AI as infallible and argued that accountability should not be left to the companies developing the technology. Mamdani compared this dynamic to arguments made by Facebook in 2008, warning that it reflects an attempt to avoid oversight while pursuing financial gains.

The mayor referenced a U.S. military strike in Iran earlier this year, where officials told Bloomberg that overreliance on AI in targeting contributed to an attack that killed more than 150 people, including at least 123 children. He used the example to underscore the risks of reckless adoption without adequate scrutiny.

Mamdani also criticized the federal focus on an AI arms race with China, arguing that humanistic concerns are sidelined in favor of national competition. He called for a different framework for discussing AI, one that prioritizes accountability and public welfare over unchecked technological advancement.