On September 28, 2026, the New York City Council announced that Speaker Julie Menin had issued a subpoena compelling SpaceXAI to appear at a public inquiry into AI safety. The Council scheduled a Committee of the Whole hearing for October 5, bringing all 51 Council members together to examine potential risks and proposed safeguards.
What the Council’s inquiry will examine
The Council says the inquiry will consider whether rapidly developing AI presents risks to public safety, cybersecurity, economic stability, privacy, consumers, or businesses—and whether those risks warrant legislation.
The safeguards under consideration
A September 25 Council announcement set out ten proposed measures. Among them: third-party validation of AI systems marketed, offered for sale, or deployed in New York City, including checks on data quality, bias, outputs, privacy, and security, plus a human override. Another proposal would require written notice of certain AI safety incidents within 24 hours after a contractor or awarding agency becomes aware of one, followed by public disclosure within 24 hours of a reported incident.
The proposals also include whistleblower protections and incentives, and a private right of action for certain foreseeable harms tied to malicious use or the circumvention of safety controls. These are measures for consideration, not current legal requirements.
The Council says it may seek enforcement in New York State Supreme Court if SpaceXAI does not comply with the subpoena.
