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AI & Tech

AI News: Tech Giants Face New York City Council Over Safety Rules

Nic Reeve5 min read
AI News: Tech Giants Face New York City Council Over Safety Rules

Google, Meta, OpenAI and Anthropic representatives are appearing before New York City lawmakers on October 5, 2026, for a rare hearing focused on artificial-intelligence safety, accountability and possible local regulations. The proceeding is the latest development in the city’s push to question major technology companies directly, making it a major moment in AI news.

Why is the New York City Council holding the hearing?

The Council is examining whether fast-moving AI products create risks that existing safeguards do not adequately address. The October 5 hearing brings all 51 Council members together and is being conducted by the Committee of the Whole, allowing lawmakers to question companies in a single public session.

  • Event date: October 5, 2026.
  • Venue: New York City Council hearing in New York City.
  • Participants: Representatives of Anthropic, OpenAI, Google and Meta.
  • Format: Public testimony under oath.
  • Scope: AI safety risks, consumer protection and possible legislative safeguards.

According to the New York City Council, the hearing is intended to examine “the potential dangers of AI technology” and gather company input on legislative responses. Council Speaker Julie Menin announced the session on September 28, after earlier letters sought testimony from leading AI companies.

Which technology companies agreed to testify?

Anthropic, OpenAI, Google and Meta agreed to send representatives. Meta committed a senior executive before the other three companies confirmed participation after the Council warned that subpoenas could be used to compel testimony.

  • Anthropic: The company behind the Claude family of AI models.
  • OpenAI: The creator of ChatGPT and other generative-AI systems.
  • Google: The Alphabet company developing Gemini and related AI services.
  • Meta: The owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, which is developing its own AI products.

According to Council announcements reported on September 28, OpenAI and Google agreed to appear on the Sunday before the hearing. Reporting published by CBS News on October 4 identified executives from the four companies as scheduled witnesses.

Why did subpoenas become part of the dispute?

The companies did not all accept the invitations at the same time. Speaker Menin initially requested participation from senior leaders, then warned that the Council could use its subpoena authority. OpenAI, Google and Anthropic later agreed to send representatives, while Meta had already committed to attend.

  • September 16: The Council announced plans for an October 5 hearing and requested participation from major AI leaders.
  • September 25: The Council unveiled proposed legislative measures and reiterated that attendance was expected.
  • September 28: The Council said OpenAI, Google, Anthropic and Meta would testify under oath.
  • October 5: The public hearing is scheduled to take place.

According to PoliticsNY, OpenAI, Google and Anthropic agreed to appear after lawmakers threatened subpoenas. The New York City Council separately announced that Elon Musk’s AI company, SpaceXAI, faced a subpoena after it did not confirm participation.

What will lawmakers ask the companies?

The Council has not published a complete question list, but its announcements identify several areas of concern. Lawmakers are expected to focus on how companies test models, respond to harmful outputs and protect New Yorkers from misuse.

  • How companies identify and reduce safety failures before releasing AI systems.
  • What protections exist for children and other vulnerable users.
  • How platforms respond to self-harm content, fraud, impersonation and manipulated media.
  • Whether companies provide enough transparency about model limits and incidents.
  • What city governments can regulate without conflicting with state or federal law.

The hearing follows reports of tens of thousands of AI-related safety incidents cited in recent coverage, although the public material gathered for the hearing does not establish a single official incident count. The Council’s stated purpose is broader: to assess risks and consider safeguards for residents.

What legislation is New York City considering?

The Council has linked the hearing to a package of proposals aimed at reducing potential harm from AI systems. The measures remain proposals, not enacted city law, and the public hearing is intended to inform debate over their contents and enforceability.

  • Rules addressing the safety and accountability of AI developers.
  • Possible requirements for companies to disclose risks or testing practices.
  • Consumer protections for people affected by automated decisions or generated content.
  • Local responses to harmful or deceptive uses of generative AI.

According to the Council’s September 25 announcement, the proposed bills were scheduled for discussion at the October 5 Committee of the Whole hearing. The Council has also questioned whether protections at the state and federal levels are sufficient for New Yorkers.

What makes the hearing unusual?

The proceeding combines an unusually large group of lawmakers with testimony under oath from several leading AI companies. According to the Council, it is the first time major AI firms have been set to provide public testimony under oath before the body following recent incident reports.

  • 51 Council members: The full City Council is expected to participate.
  • Four companies: Anthropic, OpenAI, Google and Meta have confirmed attendance.
  • Under oath: The format gives testimony a more formal legal setting than a private briefing.
  • Local focus: Questions will center on risks experienced by people in New York City.

Fortune reported on September 25 that the hearing would be a Committee of the Whole, a format the Council had not used since 2022. The same report said several requested chief executives were unlikely to appear personally, meaning company representatives may answer questions instead.

What happens after the testimony?

The Council can use the testimony to revise proposed bills, request further records or pursue additional hearings. The hearing itself does not automatically create new rules. Any measure would still need to move through the Council’s legislative process and comply with higher-level law.

  • Lawmakers may compare company safety policies and public commitments.
  • The Council may seek documents or additional testimony.
  • Proposed legislation could be amended after the hearing.
  • Companies may face continuing scrutiny over AI-related incidents in New York.
  • The subpoena dispute could shape future dealings between City Hall and technology firms.

The hearing also places pressure on companies to explain their safeguards in a public forum. Their answers may influence how New York City approaches AI oversight while broader debates continue in Albany and Washington.

Sources

  1. 1.council.nyc.gov
  2. 2.council.nyc.gov
  3. 3.council.nyc.gov
  4. 4.cbsnews.com
  5. 5.council.nyc.gov
  6. 6.techtimes.com
  7. 7.fortune.com
  8. 8.ground.news
  9. 9.council.nyc.gov
  10. 10.politicsny.com
  11. 11.nypost.com
  12. 12.briefs.co
  13. 13.thenextweb.com
  14. 14.interestingengineering.com
  15. 15.audacy.com

Read more →

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According to Synthszr’s September 6, 2026 ranking, Kling 3.0 natively generates 4K video at up to 60 frames per second with synchronized audio and supports up to six camera cuts per clip. Users chasing maximum resolution and integrated audio will lean toward Kling; teams optimizing for iterative editing inside existing Google tools may accept lower resolution in exchange for speed and integration. Where are these models available and how are they priced? Gemini Omni Flash is woven into Google’s subscription tiers and tools, from the Gemini app to YouTube products and Google Vids, while Kling 3.0 is accessible through Kuaishou’s platforms and partner APIs aimed at creators and developers. Commercial terms vary, but both target professional and prosumer use. 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