Former technology company employees urged New York City lawmakers to strengthen oversight of artificial intelligence during a hearing Monday, warning that development is advancing faster than safeguards. The council is considering disclosure requirements, independent review and whistleblower incentives.
Former Anthropic engineer Jacob Coxon argued that companies’ rapid development culture is unsuitable for systems with potentially far-reaching consequences. His warnings about losing human control represented his assessment of future risks.
Representatives from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and Meta also testified, emphasizing AI’s benefits and their safety commitments. Some expressed willingness to work with local officials on regulation.
Council Speaker Julie Menin pressed company representatives to explain the likelihood of catastrophic outcomes. The exchange highlighted lawmakers’ demand for clearer risk assessments as they examine proposals requiring greater disclosure, third-party approval and financial incentives for reporting violations. Those measures remain proposals under consideration.
