WATCH LIVE: NYC Council holds rare hearing on AI risks with top tech executives

A rare hearing will be held at City Hall on Monday as the full council prepares to grill some of the top tech executives about the risks posed by artificial intelligence.

The safety and future of AI is the focus of the 11 a.m. hearing where council members are planning to question technology leaders about potential dangers as they create legislative proposals to keep New Yorkers safe.

In recent weeks, AI executives and whistleblowers have come out with serious warnings about the rapid development of the technology. There have also been reports of rogue AI agents damaging government databases.

Leading AI experts will be in attendance along with representatives from Anthropic, OpenAI, Google and Meta all expected to testify. The council also subpoenaed Elon Musk's SpaceXAI.

"Given the high stakes, these firms owe it to the public to come before the Council, answer our questions, and provide input on our proposed legislation under oath," Council Speaker Julie Menin said in a statement last week.

The NYC Council, she said, has proposed 10 pieces of legislation aimed to creating stronger safeguards and accountability, as well as what would be the first-in-the-nation whistleblower incentive program to empower New Yorkers to call out companies not adhering to laws.

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Speaker Menin is expected to lead a press conference at 10 a.m. before the council hearing gets underway roughly an hour later.