Illustration by Tag Hartman-Simkins/Futurism. Source: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
Only a month into his new job, New York City Mayor Mamdani is cracking down on a lot more predatory landlord. Apparently, useless AI chatbots are also on his administration’s agenda.
one in press conference Held last week, Mamdani took up the cause of highlighting New York City’s large language models as targets for destruction. According for local publication CityThe mayor was addressing the Big Apple’s $12 billion budget gap, at least some of which he said can be attributed to the city’s shaky AI system.
“The previous administration had an AI chatbot that was functionally unusable,” Mamdani said. Disgraced former mayor Eric Adams. “It was costing the administration about half a million dollars. This, in itself, is not something that would make up such a gap, but it is indicative of the way money has been spent without accounting for the real costs of these programs.”
part of the government platform is called my cityChatbot launched in late 2023 and reportedly cost Over $600,000 to build. Powered by Microsoft’s Azure AI system, it was intended to use “information published by the NYC Department of Small Business Services” to help small business owners navigate complex local regulations. according to a investigation by Marck upHowever, the MyCity chatbot did nothing.
For example, when asked “Can I deduct my worker’s tips?” The MyCity chatbot responded – contrary to actual labor law – that “Yes, you can deduct your worker’s tips.”
The chatbot can accurately explain some of the city’s laws. When tested on the tip question, it correctly advised that “According to New York City payroll and tip reporting information, employers are required to report tips reported by employees and employees receiving $20 or more per month in tips must report all of their tips to their employer.”
But its analysis of that information was ridiculously wrong: “So, as an employer, you are allowed to take a portion of your employee’s tips.”
Other examples of illegal advice abound. When asked if a small business owner could make their store “cashless,” the chatbot advised “Yes, you can make your store cashless in New York City” – no problem. 2020 law Ban on cashless shops across the city.
Scale this to the scale of citywide small business regulations — funeral home pricing, worker safety, housing policy — and it’s clear that the MyCity chatbot was a legal time bomb waiting to explode.
More information on New York City: Mamdani forces delivery apps to pay $4.6 million defrauded from drivers
