New York, NY — On October 28th 2024, the New York City Council Committee on Technology, chaired by Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez, held a critical oversight hearing where the Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI) defended its current approach to AI governance, reviewed their AI Action plan, and pushed back against proposed oversight legislation.

Executive Director of Research and Collaboration for the NYC Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI), Alex Foard testified that the agency has completed 31 of 37 proposed actions from its October 2023 AI Action Plan, including publishing foundational policy documents and establishing both an AI steering committee and advisory network. However, Foard expressed opposition to key provisions in proposed oversight legislation, arguing that new rules could hinder the agency’s ability to keep pace with rapidly evolving technology.

“Advisory networks and expertise without implementation are academic exercises,” said Chair Gutiérrez, challenging OTI’s resistance to concrete oversight measures.

Foard specifically opposed:

  • The creation of promulgated rules for AI usage (Intro 0926), arguing they would become quickly outdated
  • The establishment of a new Office of Data Integrity (Intro 1099), claiming it would “unintentionally dismantle” OTI’s existing work
  • Requirements for blanket AI tool approvals (Intro 1024), though supporting the concept of a centralized tool listing

Committee members pushed back on OTI’s position, arguing that rules need not be rigid and emphasizing the necessity of concrete governance frameworks. The exchange highlighted a fundamental disagreement over how to balance flexibility with accountability in AI oversight.

OTI maintains that its current approach through Local Law 35 reporting and the AI Action Plan provides sufficient oversight, while Council Members expressed concern that without stronger enforcement mechanisms, let alone a support system as Intro 1099 proposes, the city’s AI principles risk remaining theoretical rather than practical.

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