New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams released a new report titled "Artificially Inevitable," examining the role of artificial intelligence local, state and federal government, and outlining guidelines for responsible use of the rapidly developing technology.
According to the report, power consumption by data centers in the United States are estimated to drive almost half the growth in electrical demand within the next 5 years. The nation's largest data centers require up to 5 million gallons of water a day, the same water use for a town with between 10,000 to 50,000 residents.
“Our government has a responsibility to help New Yorkers better understand this technology that is rapidly changing the world we live in, and to ensure that when this technology is used, it is to the benefit of New Yorkers,” said Williams upon the report's release.
The report recommends that New York City require entities to obtain consent before collecting and disclosing personal and sensitive information belonging to city residents and notify people when their information is being used to train AI models.
It also calls for workforce protections and AI-related training, AI-specific procurement standards and public AI literacy programs. Williams said these efforts should help New Yorkers understand the technology while ensuring its use benefits residents.
To inform the discussion, Williams brought students and seniors together at the A. Philip Randolph senior center in Harlem to share their experiences, concerns and perspectives. The discussion connected generations that have experienced major technological changes throughout their lives and offered different perspectives on how AI is affecting communities.
The recommendations extend to schools, where the city has introduced restrictions on AI use and screen time for the coming school year, including a prohibition on AI use in elementary and middle schools.
The report also provides a roadmap of previously passed laws which govern AI in New York City, including Local Law 144, which passed in 2021 to prohibit automated employment decisions and New York City Public Schools Guidance on Artificial Intelligence.
