AI Bots Will Join NYC Government, Mayor Says

NEW YORK CITY — Mayor Eric Adams promises his latest tech push won't lead to Skynet.

The city launched its first artificial intelligence, or AI, chatbot Monday for the MyCity Business site, Adams announced.

Adams said such AI-driven tools that eventually will be rolled out to other city government services, such as 311 and schools. Those future projects will be governed by an AI plan — the first by a major U.S. city — that will help officials evaluate risks and benefits.

"People think you're going to have a 'Terminator'-type figure come in and take over government and displace human beings," he said. "That's just not the reality.

"Take a deep breath, get a grip. It is going to help us function better in this city."

Hizzoner's next reveal likely inspired some deep breaths — he said AI is already being used in robocalls to make it seem as if he's speaking several languages.

The move was criticized as "deeply Orwellian" by a watchdog quoted by the New York Post.

Adams, for his part, argued AI bots will be able to give New Yorkers answers about city services in different languages.

"Any New Yorker, any language, is going to be able to call and get the response they want in the language they speak," he said.

Adams' embrace of new technologies such as cryptocurrency and drones has been a mixed bag.

His vow to take his first paychecks in crypto reportedly lost him roughly $6,000. And advocates have criticized his push to add robot police dogs to the NYPD as both "dystopian" and a violation of surveillance law.

The AI chatbot unveiled Monday is limited only to help for business owners and entrepreneurs, officials said.

But officials said AI features could expand to services such as 311.

Roughly 70 percent of calls to 311 are from New Yorkers seeking information, rather than making a request for action, said Matthew Fraser, the city's chief technology officer.

He said AI tools can help get callers answers quickly rather than waiting for minutes.

"Right now, we have the voice lines mostly consolidating through 311," he said. "We will eventually expand to so all services will be serviced through a bot very similar to this."