Menin says hearing will not stifle AI innovation
Menin says the Council will hear from city agencies, whistleblowers, industry experts, academics, and the public. She emphasizes the intent is not to stifle innovation, noting New York City's nearly 400,000 tech jobs and its emerging role as an AI capital.
We will also hear from a number of city agencies to receive their perspectives on these issues and on the bills that we have proposed thus far.
We intend to work constructively with the administration to ensure that any policies being drafted, amended, adopted, and enforced will work effectively to serve New Yorkers.
And we'll also hear from whistleblowers, industry representatives, experts, and academics who we've been in touch with since we announced.
this hearing.
And of course, we look forward to hearing from any member of the public who's invited to provide testimony about these topics.
I want to be very clear about our intent.
This hearing is not about stifling innovation.
New York City is fast becoming the tech and AI capital of the world, home to nearly 400,000 jobs in that sector, and some of the companies most consequentially shaping the future of artificial intelligence.
And that's something we should celebrate.
We welcome and appreciate how AI has accelerated scientific discovery, advanced medical treatments, boosted economic development, and helped governments and businesses deliver services more effectively while reducing costs and rooting out.
Waste and fraud.
When companies are developing technology with the potential to fundamentally reshape our economy, our workforce, our public safety, and our daily lives,
and when leaders of that very industry are themselves warning government about its risks, the public deserves answers and solutions.
So the true intent of this hearing is to ensure that innovation happens responsibly, that the government does its job to protect the public as the technology advances, and that the protections at the municipal level
can potentially serve as a national model.