Mamdani says feds have abdicated on AI, urges New Yorkers to push back

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani argued on Monday that federal authorities have failed to regulate artificial intelligence, urging residents to push back against the technology's rapid rollout.

Speaking with actor Ilana Glazer at Manhattan’s Webster Hall, Mamdani criticized national leaders for leaving cities to act independently. He cited President Donald Trump’s recently announced Superintelligence Task Force, which emphasizes corporate self-regulation over strict federal limits. Mamdani argued that national AI discussions focus too narrowly on competition with China rather than human concerns.

The mayor highlighted several local measures his administration has taken to challenge the assumption that AI integration is inevitable. Last month, Mamdani banned AI use in elementary and middle schools. Over the summer, he also introduced a policy requiring real estate platforms and landlords to clearly disclose AI-generated listing photos and videos to prevent deceptive marketing.

Mamdani cautioned against treating automated systems as infallible, pointing to a Pentagon investigation linking an overreliance on AI targeting to a fatal strike on an Iranian school. He contended that companies downplay technical limitations to avoid accountability while protecting upcoming public stock offerings.