New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has voiced strong support for the growing movement against AI data centers, framing it as a bipartisan pushback against an industry that privatizes gains while socializing costs. In an interview, Mamdani said the opposition gives him hope because it cuts across typical political lines, citing a shared skepticism between himself and figures like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Energy Demands and Economic Concerns
Mamdani pointed to the immense energy consumption of AI models, noting that training a single version of ChatGPT required as much electricity as powering all of San Francisco for three days. He argued that communities are right to worry about what these facilities mean for their electricity rates and local environments. The mayor described the current approach to AI governance as “our risk, their reward,” a phrase that captures his concern that powerful companies reap the benefits while the public absorbs the downsides.
He also linked the rapid expansion of AI to the housing bubble, warning that the technology sector may be inflating an artificial valuation. When asked directly whether he believes AI is in a bubble and whether it might burst, Mamdani answered yes to both. He added that he does not trust the leaders of major AI companies to self-regulate, comparing their stance to Facebook’s arguments in 2008.
Local Action Amid Federal Inaction
With what he described as a complete abdication of federal law on AI, Mamdani said New York City is using every tool available. His administration has proposed one of the most comprehensive school AI moratoriums in the country, banning generative AI for students from 2K through eighth grade. The goal, he explained, is to let students learn and fail without being treated as guinea pigs for technology companies’ profit motives.
The city has also implemented practical rules. The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection now prohibits realtors from using AI-generated images of apartments, and another rule limits chatbot interactions that can trap users in doom loops. Mamdani stressed that these measures address immediate harms while the federal government has yet to reckon with the scale of AI’s impact, including what he called fatal consequences such as hallucinations that nearly led to war with China and outdated information that contributed to the bombing of an Iranian children’s school.
Political Partnerships and Priorities
Mamdani’s interview also touched on his endorsement of Governor Kathy Hochul, whom he praised for a productive working relationship that has delivered material wins. He highlighted Universal 2K, a childcare program that received $1.2 billion on the eighth day of his administration and is set to expand from 2,000 to 12,000 2-year-olds next year. He contrasted Hochul’s record with her opponent, who he said has focused on AI-generated videos and defended ICE while proposing cuts to childcare and Medicaid.
On the rise of the Democratic Socialists of America, Mamdani attributed the movement’s momentum to its focus on dignity for working-class people. He noted that problems like unaffordable rent, childcare, groceries, and electricity bills are national in scope, making the DSA’s message compelling across the country. He emphasized that the “democratic” in DSA means members decide the organization’s direction, extending democracy beyond the ballot box.
Technology and Democracy
Asked whether technology is strengthening or weakening democracy, Mamdani said it is still weaker. He shared a personal example: family members have sent him AI-generated videos of himself that they believed were real, including one of a debate with a European parliament member that he never participated in. He described this as part of a broader crisis of faith in what is real, warning that it could further erode trust in traditional institutions.
Mamdani also criticized the surveillance technology used at Madison Square Garden, saying private citizens like James Dolan should not wield such power over everyday New Yorkers. He pointed to legislation introduced by City Council member Shahana Hanif as an important response.
Looking ahead to the Democratic Party’s future, Mamdani said he hopes it recognizes that the only majority in the country is the working class and fights for it. He rejected the idea that ambitious politics belongs only in history books, calling for a living, breathing politic that delivers for working people. As for his own plans in a decade, he said he hopes to have completed a second term but takes nothing for granted.
