# New York Mayor Mamdani Urges Public Oversight of AI at City Event By Riza Dagoc Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/regulation/35434 Published: 2026-10-20T07:57:46.000Z Updated: 2026-10-20T07:57:46.000Z Section: Regulation > In September, Mamdani ordered elementary and middle schools to ban AI use. His administration has also proposed disclosures for AI-made rental-listing images. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged greater public oversight of artificial intelligence on Oct. 19, arguing that people should have more control over how the technology is used as federal policy leaves companies largely responsible for managing its risks. Mamdani spoke at The People’s AI Assembly at Webster Hall in Manhattan. He challenged the idea that the spread of AI must be accepted as inevitable and called for governments to hold its developers accountable. He criticized the lack of federal AI rules. Mamdani said national discussions often frame the technology as a competition with China while giving less attention to its effects on people. He called for a different federal approach to AI accountability after the current administration. New York City has taken action in two areas where residents encounter AI. In September, Mamdani ordered elementary and middle schools to ban AI use. Mamdani’s administration has also proposed requiring landlords, brokers and real estate platforms to disclose when rental-listing photos or videos are made with AI. The housing requirement remains a proposal. At the federal level, the Trump administration has [urged AI firms to manage safety risks voluntarily](). Mamdani’s remarks placed responsibility for AI oversight with public officials as well as the companies developing the technology. ## Links in this article - [urged AI firms to manage safety risks voluntarily](https://www.tokenpost.com/news/regulation/25525)