NYC Council puts OpenAI and rivals under oath at AI safety hearing
The October 5th hearing brings representatives of OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and Meta before all 51 Council members, alongside whistleblowers including former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon. OpenAI sent the Council a letter last Thursday recommending safeguards ahead of the hearing.
By Ryan Merket · Published · Updated
Primary source: New York City Council
Why it matters
The Council page outlines ways to watch hearings and submit testimony. The supplied material documents an existing public service, not a new technology development.
New York City's full Council convenes today, October 5th, for a hearing on AI risks, with representatives of OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and Meta set to testify under oath. The rare Committee of the Whole hearing will bring all 51 Council members together to examine risks to New Yorkers and potential city safeguards. The Council says it has also secured testimony from AI safety and consumer protection experts, including former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon. The Council's announcement says OpenAI, Google and Anthropic agreed to appear after the Council threatened subpoenas; Meta had confirmed earlier. SpaceXAI was subpoenaed after failing to respond to the Council's request.
https://runtimewire.com/live-coverage/2
The Council is weighing proposals that include a whistleblower incentive program, a right for New Yorkers to sue over harm caused by AI agents, and independent third-party validation requirements. Those proposals are on the hearing agenda; the session itself does not enact them.
On October 1st, OpenAI sent Speaker Julie Menin and the Council a letter recommending safeguards ahead of the hearing. In its account of the letter, OpenAI said it tests models for dangerous capabilities and concerning behavior, strengthens security, and monitors for failures in its safeguards. NY1 reported on the letter.
The Council's livestream page lists its active hearing feeds and archives past hearings.