Mamdani says feds have abandoned AI, calls on New Yorkers to push back
regulation
| Source: TechCrunch | Original article
Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged New Yorkers to push back against the notion of an inevitable AI takeover and demand stronger regulations, criticizing federal inaction.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani used an AI Now Institute gathering on Monday night to launch a public appeal against what he described as federal “abdication” on artificial‑intelligence oversight. Speaking to a crowd of researchers, educators and activists, Mamdani warned that the narrative of an inevitable AI takeover must be challenged and that New Yorkers should demand regulations that safeguard the public and return decision‑making power to citizens.
The mayor’s remarks highlighted two concrete city initiatives. First, the administration has begun tightening the use of AI in public schools, a move that follows a September 2026 call from the AIM Coalition for a two‑year moratorium on AI tools affecting roughly 600,000 students. Second, New York has introduced new disclosure requirements for AI‑generated content in real‑estate listings, aiming to curb misleading automated descriptions. Mamdani framed these steps as a local response to a vacuum at the federal level, where comprehensive AI policy remains unsettled.
The comments arrive as Washington’s AI task force enters its 120‑day review period, and as several states have recently sued OpenAI over child‑safety concerns. Mamdani’s call underscores a growing tension between city‑level experimentation and the absence of nationwide standards, raising questions about how municipalities can shape AI governance when federal action stalls.
What to watch next: the city’s forthcoming regulatory proposals for school AI tools and real‑estate disclosures, potential legislative pushback from industry groups, and whether Mamdani’s appeal spurs other U.S. cities to adopt similar “bottom‑up” safeguards. Federal officials have not yet responded, leaving the spotlight on New York as a possible testing ground for AI accountability.
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