1. Enhancing Transparency and Awareness
2. Data Access and Use Notification
3. Efficiency and Justification of AI Use

This week, Jennifer Gutiérrez, a New York City Councilmember, is introducing a bill that seeks to require the city to come up with a list of artificial intelligence tools approved for use by its agencies by February 1, 2025. This list is intended to create awareness and transparency regarding artificial intelligence tools in use across various city departments.

Enhancing Transparency and Awareness

The suggested legislation seeks to increase the public’s awareness of the city’s use of AI technologies. Gutiérrez pointed out that the purpose is for New Yorkers to be aware of how these technologies are affecting their lives – especially concerning the use of their data. The list will also promote responsibility and help agencies collaborate more effectively when using AI tools.

Data Access and Use Notification

The legislation requires that a description of the data to which every AI application accesses should be included. Gutiérrez explained that this will inform the public about what sorts of decisions city agencies will be making based on the data. This ensures that people are notified of how AI is being useful — or not useful to them. Additionally, this list shall be updated every six months, although there could be more regular updates based on feedback during scheduled hearings.

Efficiency and Justification of AI Use

Another critical feature of the law is its potential ability to save resources that would have otherwise been spent on ineffective AI applications. The move to make the list public and transparent will help the city justify its expenditure to New Yorkers. The list could be as simple as a spreadsheet or a more complex tracking mechanism that evolves with the introduction of new AI tools. This legislation does not intend to limit the tools that agencies use, but it seeks accountability, requiring that the use of these tools is purposeful and well-justified for city residents. It is anticipated that such an approach will enable the city to avoid incurring costs on tools that are useless to the public.

The bill’s introduction aligns with ongoing developments in artificial intelligence in New York City. After its introduction, there will be a hearing to explore the new legislation and other AI bills related to it. The council seeks to hear evidence from city officials and the public before amending and final voting on the bill.