- Mamdani calls professional chatbot “functionally unusable” and orders its removal
- The chatbot repeatedly gave incorrect or illegal advice to business owners in the city.
- Former Mayor Adams defended the system, saying improvements would make it the best chatbot
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced plans to shut down a corporate chatbot launched during Mayor Eric Adams’ administration, calling it “functionally unusable.”
At a recent press conference about the city’s $12 billion budget deficit, Mamdani said the chatbot was costing the city about half a million dollars while giving unreliable advice to business owners.
The bot, called MyCity Chatbot, was originally designed to serve as a productivity tool for business owners, helping them adapt to city rules and regulations.
The chatbot gave false and illegal responses
Test by The markup And The city in 2024 found that he regularly gave inaccurate or potentially illegal advice.
For example, it suggested that landlords could discriminate against Section 8 tenants and falsely informed businesses that refusing cash payments was acceptable, despite city law.
The tool also misrepresents labor rules, such as minimum wage, and recommends actions that could expose business owners to legal risk.
Mamdani cited these repeated failures as the main justification for his decision to terminate the service.
After initial reports, the Adams administration defended the chatbot and promised future improvements.
“We identify the problems, we’re going to fix them, and we’re going to have the best chatbot system in the world,” Adams said.
However, the city later added disclaimers warning users not to rely on the robot for legal or professional advice.
The chatbot also limited the types of questions it could answer, reducing its usefulness as a collaboration tool for businesses.
Built using Microsoft’s cloud hosting platform, the bot was part of the MyCity digital overhaul intended to streamline access to city services.
The foundation reportedly cost nearly $600,000, and ongoing maintenance has added additional expenses, although exact figures remain unclear.
Beyond financial concerns, the system relied heavily on external contractors and complex desktop software, contributing to inefficiencies and limited usability.
Despite several restrictions and updates, the tool reportedly continued to produce harmful or incorrect advice.
Mamdani’s decision highlights the risks of deploying automated systems as public-facing tools without adequate oversight.
Via The city
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