Edmund urges City Council to regulate corporations, not just AI

Thank you to the council for hearing us out.

I'm a former software, my name's Edmund, I'm a former software developer currently studying public policy at CUNY SLU.

I'm speaking on my own behalf, but I'm active with New York City DSA and Progressive Victory.

I was going to tell you about my experience with AI advancing and affecting my friends and my own career as developers.

That is in my submitted written testimony.

However, what I realized today listening to the testimony of these company representatives and whistleblowers, and what I now want to remind you of is this.

We might not yet know how to rein in AI, but we do know how to rein in corporations.

You must act on our behalf to control these companies, not only AI itself.

Help investigate their circular financing agreements, as well as break up their monopolies and oligopolies.

Limit the use of their products in city government and ensure the city has control and responsibility over any AI models it uses.

Stop their union-busting behavior.

Commit to using and improving open-source software and ethical models.

Don't allow the police to use AI to track citizens.

Hold these companies responsible for the social harms their products cause.

This is a power you have right now.

There is no technical knowledge needed to ensure their accountability.

You can also pass 2026 intros 0213, 0428, and 0518.

These four companies are asking you to regulate AI itself, but to forget about them.

Instead, please listen to New Yorkers, not billionaires.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.