Former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon, who previously warned that the race to develop AI is a "gamble with our lives," testified before the New York City Council in a rare session involving all 51 members. The hearing was convened to urgently examine the risks of AI and consider a package of 10 bills aimed at establishing safeguards.
Representatives from Anthropic, Google, OpenAI, and Meta also testified under oath, outlining their current safety protocols. The proposed legislation in New York City includes measures that would require third-party validation of AI models, create a "shut-down capability" for human operators, and establish a private right of action for individuals harmed by AI systems.