Two prominent figures in New York, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and activist and actress Ilana Glazer, addressed the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) at Webster Hall in Manhattan on Monday night. During the event, Glazer posed critical questions to Mamdani regarding the future of AI in society.
Call to Action
Mamdani urged New Yorkers to resist the pervasive belief that AI is an unavoidable threat to their jobs, their children's education, and their dignity. He emphasized the need for citizens to reclaim control over the technology that is rapidly being integrated into daily life. His remarks came at a time when the federal government has been slow to regulate AI, leaving local governments to navigate the challenges independently.
At The People’s AI Assembly, hosted by the AI Now Institute, Mamdani argued that the swift adoption of AI is not a foregone conclusion. He called for public officials to hold AI companies accountable for their actions. Last month, he implemented a ban on AI use in elementary and middle schools, reflecting his concerns about the technology's impact on education.
Concerns About AI in Education
Glazer, a parent, expressed her unease about the introduction of AI in classrooms, stating,
“"It just makes me nervous. It feels so non-consensual, as though…this has to be in schools. It wasn’t two years ago. Why does it have to be in schools?"
