Monday, October 5, 2026, 11 a.m. (New York City time), Council Chambers - City Hall
Committee: Committee of the Whole
Speaker Julie Menin and Technology Chair Carmen N. De La Rosa convened the full Council as a Committee of the Whole for a day-long hearing on the risks of artificial intelligence and a package of bills, including Int. 161 on AI's impact on City jobs, Int. 504 on AI depictions of public officials, and preconsidered introductions on third-party validation and shutdown capability (T2026-2602), whistleblower-driven civilian enforcement (T2026-2605), AI safety incident reporting for City contracts (T2026-2621), a private right of action (T2026-2600), chatbot data privacy (T2026-2599), an AI emergency response plan, contractor whistleblower protections and deceptive AI advertising. Former AI company researchers Jacob Coxon, Daniel Kokotajlo and Alex Turner testified under oath that frontier labs cannot yet reliably control their systems, and the Speaker noted that SpaceX did not appear despite a Council subpoena, which the Council is pursuing in court. Representatives of OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta and Google, also under oath, were questioned about the summer's rogue-agent incidents, whether they could quantify catastrophic risk, legal liability and insurance, whistleblower treatment, child safety, data centers, immigration enforcement contracts and job displacement; they described their safety frameworks and agreed to follow up on many questions in writing. Officials from OTI, NYC Cyber Command, Emergency Management and the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection supported the intent of several bills but raised concerns about cyber command's role in regulating validation, the 24-hour incident notice requirement and enforcement capacity; members pressed them on delays in standing up the Office of Algorithmic Accountability. State legislators, a U.K. member of Parliament, advocates, unions, researchers, industry groups and residents then testified; no votes were taken.
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1:46 . Quiet, please. Quiet, pleas
1:49 e. Good morning, ladies and
1:50 gentlemen and welcome to
1:51 today's New York City Council
1:51 committee of the whole at this
1:53 time we asked you silence all
1:55 cell phones and electronic
1:56 devices to minimize
1:57 disruptions throughout today's
1:58 proceedings. If you have any
1:59 questions, please get the
2:00 attention of one of the
2:01 sergeant at arms if you wish
2:03 to testify. Please see the
2:03 sergeant arms outside in the
2:05 rotunda and no time throughout
2:06 today's proceeding, are you t
2:07 oapproach the dais. We thank
2:10 you for your kind cooperation
2:10 speaker, we are ready to begi
2:14 n
2:14 . Good morning, everyone. We
2:15 welcome everyone to the
2:16 chambers were thrilled to see
2:18 a packed hall today. Today's
2:21 hearing is truly know ordinary
2:23 hearing because today we are
2:25 convening the New York City
2:27 council's committee of the
2:28 whole, which is the entire
2:30 City Council. We will delve
2:32 into a deep discussion about
2:34 her ongoing technological
2:37 revolution, a revolution tha
2:38 tat present is igniting
2:41 incredible scientific and
2:42 medical innovation and
2:44 breakthroughs, but
2:46 simultaneously raises serious
2:49 existential safety concerns I
2:50 nthe past few weeks we've heard
2:52 extremely concerning reports
2:53 regarding artificial
2:56 intelligence reports that have
2:57 appeared with increasing
2:59 frequency and that highlight
3:02 the potentially catastrophic
3:03 dangers of this technology New
3:05 yorker's concerns stem from
3:07 the disturbing cyber attacks
3:08 committed by rogue agents but
3:11 also from extremely dire
3:13 statements made by leaders of
3:14 the very companies who are
3:17 developing this technology
3:19 ,the dialogue and the
3:20 legislative process. We are
3:22 initiating today is
3:24 particularly important given
3:25 the lack of any regulation by
3:27 the federal government whose
3:30 actions thus far have been
3:31 limited to an executive order
3:32 about what we should call this
3:34 technology and a pact with
3:36 leading a firms focusing on
3:40 self regulation, our hope and
3:41 hearing will not only allow us
3:47 to develop effective
3:48 regulations here in our City,
3:50 but that it will spur a
3:52 meaningful conversation and
3:54 action in other jurisdictions
3:56 ,especially on the federal
3:58 level. Our goals in today's
4:00 hearing are straightforward to
4:03 better understand the
4:04 potential threats, dangers and
4:05 liability posed by a eye
4:07 development to identify the
4:10 benefits that responsible a
4:12 New York City government and
4:15 to its residents and to
4:16 discuss the slate of City
4:17 council bills which seek to
4:20 provide responsible safety
4:21 guard rails for a I. These
4:24 bills include a wide range of
4:27 both proactive and defensive
4:29 measures from legislation that
4:32 requires artificial
4:32 intelligence systems to pass a
4:35 third party validation, that
4:37 is free from conflicts of
4:39 interest and incentivizes
4:41 whistleblowers who come
4:41 forward with a portion of the
4:46 penalties assessed two
4:46 proposals focusing on
4:47 emergency preparedness to be
4:49 able to identify system
4:51 breaches into plan how the
4:53 City will respond if such a
4:57 breach occurs to achieve these
4:57 goals we've requested the
4:59 participation of five firms
5:01 leading the research and
5:02 development of a I open a I
5:05 and google, meta and space x
5:07 today, four of them will be
5:11 testifying under oath before
5:12 the.
5:13 Council, not simply for New
5:14 yorkers, but for the entire
5:17 world to here. We will indeed
5:19 be the first legislative body
5:22 to secure testimo fronym these
5:24 companies under oath in the
5:25 wake of these latest
5:28 disturbing reports. Spacex. I,
5:29 however, is not here at all in
5:30 direct violation of the
5:31 subpoena that we issued last
5:32 week and we are pursuing that
5:34 subpoena in court. We will
5:37 also hear from a number of
5:39 City agencies to receive their
5:41 perspectives on these issues
5:42 and on the bills that we have
5:43 proposed as far we intend to
5:46 work constructively with the
5:47 administration to ensure that
5:49 any policies being drafted,
5:51 amended, adopted and enforced
5:52 will work effectively to serve
5:55 New yorkers and we'll also
5:57 hear from whistleblowers,
5:58 industry representatives,
5:59 experts and academics who
6:02 we've been in touch with since
6:03 we announced this hearing and
6:04 of course we look forward t
6:06 ohearing from any member of the
6:07 public who was invited t
6:10 oprovide testimony about these
6:11 topics. I want to be very
6:12 clear about our intent. This
6:16 hearing is not about stifling
6:18 innovation. New York City is
6:21 fast becoming the tech and a I
6:23 capital of the world
6:24 . Home to nearly 400000 jobs
6:27 in tt sehactor and some of the
6:30 company's most consequentially
6:31 shaping the future of
6:33 artificial intelligence and
6:34 that's something we should
6:35 celebrate. We welcome and
6:37 appreciate how a I has
6:39 accelerated its scientific
6:41 discovery, advanced medical
6:41 treatments boosted economic
6:45 development and help
6:45 governments and businesses
6:47 deliver services more
6:47 effectively while we're
6:49 juicing costs and rooting out
6:50 waste and fraud when companies
6:55 are developing technology with
6:55 the potential to fund reshape
6:59 our economy, our workforce,
7:00 our public safety and our
7:02 daily lives and when leaders
7:04 of that very industry are
7:07 themselves warning government
7:07 about its risk the public
7:11 deserves answers and solutions
7:13 . So the true intent of this
7:15 hearing is to ensure that
7:18 innovation happens responsibly
7:19 that the government does its
7:20 job to protect the public as
7:24 the technology advances and
7:25 that the protections at the
7:27 municipal level can
7:28 potentially serve as a
7:31 national model. I spent a
7:32 large portion of my life being
7:34 a regular attorney. The idea
7:38 that artificial intelligence
7:38 is going to self regulate
7:40 defies all reason we don't ask
7:44 the airline industry to sel
7:45 fregulate. That's why we have
7:48 the and if there is an
7:49 accident. There's an
7:51 independent body t
7:51 oinvestigate that we don't ask
7:54 financial firms to self
7:54 regulate we have the sex and
7:56 other agencies as well. W
7:59 edon't ask the pharmaceutical
8:00 companies to self regulate
8:01 either. That's of course. Why
8:02 we have the so we shouldn't
8:06 ask I companies to self
8:09 regulate, either the spirit we
8:10 seek to body in the councils
8:11 approach to as well
8:12 illustrated in the words of
8:15 tech journalist karen how in
8:16 her book empire of a I, she
8:18 writes. The future of a I the
8:20 shape that this technology
8:23 takes is inextricably tied t
8:27 oour future. The question of
8:28 how to govern a I then is
8:30 really a question about how t
8:32 oensure we make our future
8:35 better, not worse. New
8:36 . York has always embraced the
8:39 future, the council is going
8:40 to make sure we are prepared
8:42 for it. Chew and it's now my
8:43 pleasure to turn the
8:45 microphone over to our
8:46 technology chair council
8:50 member Carmen De you, speaker
8:50 mennen. Good morning, everyon
8:52 e. I'm Carmen De am chair of
8:53 the committee on technology
8:55 today. I am pleased to joi
8:56 nspeaker manning and my
8:58 colleagues as we co chair this
8:59 hearing by the committee o
9:00 fthe whole examining the risk
9:03 posed by artificial
9:04 intelligence. I am incredibly
9:05 grateful to all who took the
9:07 time to join us to discuss
9:08 this important topic industry
9:11 representatives, experts
9:12 ,elected officials, colleagues,
9:14 agencies are brothers and
9:15 sisters in labor and
9:16 especially the many New
9:17 yorkers who have signed up t
9:19 otestify and have submitted
9:20 testimony to put their voice
9:21 on the public record today
9:25 should act as a foundation for
9:26 openness in a discussion that
9:28 has escalated to alarm
9:30 confusion and fear, and it
9:33 needs resolution.
9:34 Artificial intelligence is
9:36 advancing rapidly and becoming
9:37 increasingly interrogated into
9:39 everyday life in just a few
9:40 years we have seen evolved
9:42 from algorithmic tools that
9:45 analyze data, make predictions
9:46 and support decision making
9:48 into generative systems that
9:49 can create text code sounds,
9:53 images.
9:54 More recently, agents has
9:56 emerged, enabling agents t
9:57 otake actions on a person's
10:01 behalf
10:01 . I can be a powerful tool for
10:04 efficiency, innovation and
10:05 productivity at the same time
10:07 it introduces significant
10:10 risks, including exacerbating
10:11 biases, surveillance concern
10:14 sbreaches negative public
10:15 health outcomes, violence and
10:17 disparity. These are concerns
10:19 that become even more serious
10:21 as agents become more capable
10:25 when we face serious concerns
10:27 or challenges the appropriate
10:27 response is to address them
10:29 not to postpone them
10:32 . In an effort by City
10:32 councils by the City Council
10:34 under the leadership of
10:36 speaker mennen. Today we
10:37 respond to some of these
10:38 concerns, we will.
10:39 Be hearing the following
10:41 nthe impact of algorithmic
10:48 tools on City employees and
10:51 changes in employment
10:52 responsibilities due to.
10:53 Algorithmic tools
10:56 . Intro five and David
10:57 sponsored by deputy speaker
10:58 Williams in relation t
11:00 oprohibiting unauthorized
11:02 depiction of public officials
11:03 by artificial intelligence, a
11:06 pre considered introduction,
11:07 sponsored by speaker mennen in
11:08 relation to third party
11:09 validation and shut down
11:13 capabilities of artificial
11:14 intelligence models, a pre
11:16 considered introduction by
11:17 speaker mennen in relation t
11:19 ocivilian enforcement and
11:21 artificial intelligence
11:22 violations, a pre considered
11:24 introduction, sponsored by
11:25 majority whip Kamillah Hanks
11:28 relation to requiring
11:28 reporting and public
11:30 disclosure of artificial
11:31 intelligence safety incidents
11:34 concerning City.
11:35 Contracts a pre considered
11:36 introduction, sponsored by
11:38 council members Maloney in
11:39 relation to establishing a
11:40 private cause of action for
11:42 certain harms arising from
11:43 third party misuse of
11:44 artificial intelligence model
11:47 s, a pre considered
11:48 introduction, sponsored by
11:49 Council Member Frank Morano in
11:51 relation to chat box data
11:54 privacy, security and
11:55 transparency, a pre considered
11:57 introduction, sponsored by
11:58 Council Member Chi jose in
12:00 relation to requiring the
12:01 creation of an artificial
12:02 intelligence model emergency
12:06 response plan and finally not
12:07 finally, one more a pre
12:09 considered introduction,
12:09 sponsored by council membe
12:10 rkevin Riley in relation t
12:12 ocity contractors and sub
12:15 posting information concerning
12:17 whistleblower protections and
12:18 clarifying whistleblower
12:19 protections for reporting
12:21 conduct related to the use and
12:22 development of artificial
12:24 intelligence models and
12:25 finally a pre considere
12:27 dintroduction, sponsored by
12:28 Council Member Carl Wilson in
12:30 relations are requiring
12:32 certain disclosures and
12:34 prohibiting deceptive
12:35 representations in the
12:37 promotion while we work to
12:39 protect people from risks
12:41 associated with we must not
12:42 overlook the digital divide in
12:44 our City, our City is full of
12:46 opportunity. Yes, some
12:47 residents still lack reliable,
12:49 affordable broadband access.
12:50 Some people do not yet know
12:51 how to use a tools while
12:53 others cannot even afford
12:54 internet connection needed to
12:55 access them in the first place
12:58 . We cannot seek to benefit
12:59 from innovation while leaving
13:01 some New yorkers behind or at
13:04 its mercy technology being
13:04 used by New yorkers should be
13:06 built for them. This is an
13:08 opportunity to also explore
13:10 standing up infrastructure so
13:11 that our communities can
13:15 become literate. I look
13:16 forward to hearing from the
13:17 industry and experts about
13:19 this technology and how it is
13:20 impacting our City. What
13:23 safeguards exists where
13:23 solutions are possible as we
13:26 consider how to govern around
13:27 the eye. I also look forward
13:29 to working with our state and
13:31 federal partners to ensure
13:32 that New yorkers fully benefit
13:34 from the advancement of the of
13:37 I without compromising our
13:39 safety and privacy.
13:42 I'd like to take a moment to
13:44 thank the technology committee
13:45 staff and all of the staff in
13:46 the City Council, but most
13:48 especially our legislative
13:49 council. I mean, buy off ski
13:50 and our policy, analyst Eric
13:52 brown as well as my team,
13:53 chief of staff James burg,
13:56 heba imad free familiar and
13:58 the speaker's team for working
14:00 countless hours to put this
14:03 hearing together, I now tur
14:03 nit back to speaker, man. Thank
14:05 you so much chaired we are now
14:07 going to start with our
14:09 whistle blower panel in perso
14:10 n. I'm going to first called
14:12 jacob coxon to come to the
14:16 stand and then online we have
14:18 daniel coca tylo and alex
14:20 turner. But.
14:21 Who are both remote. I want
14:22 to say it was there getting
14:23 ready. I just want to say a
14:24 word about this panel are
14:28 these three panelists have all
14:30 worked inside, leading a I and
14:33 all have chosen to speak
14:35 publicly about the risks of
14:38 advanced here are this as I
14:40 mentioned in person is jacob
14:41 cox in former researcher at
14:43 open a I and anthropic, where
14:45 he worked on the development
14:50 of frontier. He left anthropic
14:51 last month with dire warnings
14:53 that is advancing without
14:55 adequate safeguards to prevent
14:58 catastrophic damage us
14:59 remotely is daniel coca tylo
15:01 ,executive director of the
15:03 future's project. Former open
15:06 governance researcher. Also
15:07 remote is alex turner and
15:10 control researcher, formerly a
15:11 google deepmind now working on
15:13 keeping advanced systems under
15:16 human control in September
15:19 2026, he publicly stated that
15:20 preventing catastrophic harm
15:22 from frontier. I I had part of
15:23 his work a deep mind and I
15:25 want to note the council has