New York City lawmakers grilled representatives from Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, SpaceXAI, during a hearing on Friday as the City Council continues its scrutiny of the rapidly expanding AI industry.
The Council’s Committee on Technology received its first ever subpoena to a private entity, with SpaceXAI testifying in response. This followed a Committee of the Whole session held the previous week, where lawmakers heard from major tech companies including OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, and Meta, as they examined the risks and benefits of AI.
Council members are now considering a series of proposals to place new regulatory frameworks on AI technology. One of these proposals seeks to prohibit the unauthorized use of generative AI to create depictions of public officials.
Friday’s hearing, held in the Council Chambers at City Hall in Manhattan, focused on the risks posed by advancing AI systems and the need for safeguards to protect New Yorkers as the technology becomes more pervasive.
The testimony came as the City Council continues its efforts to navigate the complex landscape of AI development and deployment.