New York City Mayor Uses AI Tools to Send Multilingual Robocalls to Residents

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Mayor Eric Adams faces criticism for using AI-generated voices to speak languages he doesn’t

The New York City Mayor, Eric Adams, has come under fire for his decision to employ artificial intelligence (AI) technology to send numerous robocalls to residents in languages he does not speak fluently. Reports indicate that Adams has sent out “thousands” of robocalls in Spanish, over 250 in Yiddish, more than 160 in Mandarin, 89 in Cantonese, and 23 in Haitian Creole. This has sparked debates on the ethical implications of Adams appearing to communicate in languages he is not proficient in. Individuals interested in transparency and truthful representation in political communication will find this situation particularly concerning.

Albert Fox Cahn, executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (STOP), criticized Adams’s use of AI-generated voices, calling it “deeply unethical, especially on the taxpayer’s dime.”

Adams discusses the multilingual robocalls during a press conference

During a press conference about the city’s new Artificial Intelligence Action Plan, Adams spoke about the multilingual robocalls. New York City’s chief technology officer, Matthew Fraser, mentioned that the city plans to expand the use of AI tools for all services. Currently, the city has a tool called MyCityChatbot, which utilizes Microsoft Azure AI to answer questions about starting a new business.

Adams expressed his enthusiasm for the robocalls made in different languages, stating, “I was excited when I had my voice go over the phone to a person who speaks Mandarin, and they were able to hear their mayor speak to them in their language. People stop me on the street all the time, and they say, ‘I didn’t know you speak Mandarin.'”

However, the robocalls do not disclose that they are AI-generated voices. They have primarily been used to promote hiring halls and concerts.

Mixed reactions and defense from Adams

When questioned about potentially misleading people to believe he can speak multiple languages, Adams defended himself, stating that it was a way to reach residents who speak languages other than English. He emphasized the importance of being able to communicate with people in languages they understand.

The City uploaded one of the mayor’s robocalls in Spanish to YouTube for anyone interested in listening. Critics have expressed their concerns, with Albert Fox Cahn remarking, “The Mayor is making deep fakes of himself. Yes, we need announcements in all of New Yorkers’ native languages, but the deep fakes are just a creepy vanity project.”