The New York City Council is set to hold an unusual hearing on artificial intelligence. Some of the industry's biggest companies will be questioned, and one may be compelled to show up.
OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and Meta are slated to give sworn testimony before all 51 members of the council, and Elon Musk's SpaceXAI was subpoenaed after not responding to lawmakers' request.
Here's what to know
On Monday, the council's Committee of the Whole will hold the hearing, allowing every council member to question AI company representatives about how their systems could affect consumers and the city's infrastructure. Experts from around the country on AI safety and consumer protection will also weigh in, as Interesting Engineering reported.
Council Speaker Julie Menin reached out to five major AI companies in mid-September to ask them to take part voluntarily. Meta said it would send a senior executive. Google and OpenAI initially declined but later agreed, and Anthropic also signed on just as the council was getting ready to send subpoenas.
SpaceXAI didn't answer, so Menin issued a subpoena Sept. 28 to order the company to appear at the hearing, IE noted.
The council will also consider several proposals meant to hold AI companies accountable.
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More background
Among the proposals is a rewards program for people who report violations by AI companies. Others would let New Yorkers sue over harm caused by AI agents and require outside reviews of some AI systems before they launch, according to IE.
Lawmakers across the country are trying to figure out how laws fit AI systems that keep getting more capable.
AI runs on electricity, which ties it directly to the power grid. AI can help utilities manage wind and solar power more efficiently, but the data centers that run AI systems can use huge amounts of power and water for cooling, which can strain local grids and push up energy bills for households.
What's being done?
The council is turning to one of its most forceful options: requiring public testimony. Under the New York City Charter, it can compel testimony when investigating city matters, and its rules let lawmakers issue subpoenas to back that up, as IE detailed.
If SpaceXAI doesn't comply, the council said it may ask the New York State Supreme Court to enforce the subpoena.
The hearing will test whether local governments can get answers from fast-growing tech companies.
Menin said lawmakers need direct answers as the technology expands. "Leading experts and AI executives themselves are warning about the potentially grave risks," she added, per IE.
Where can I learn more?
Questions about AI accountability are also coming up in disputes over an xAI data center and in congressional fights over AI rules.
• In Memphis, Tennessee, officials are debating the safety of xAI's Colossus supercomputer as community backlash grows.
• Musk's startup faced a lawsuit over Colossus as critics challenged regulatory exemptions.
• xAI is reportedly under fire for endangering residents' health with gas turbines.
• Memphis released initial air quality results from near xAI data center, and critics pushed back.
• In Congress, researchers are warning that a controversial AI plan could undercut oversight.
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