If you live in New York City, you might have received a surprising phone call from Mayor Eric Adams, speaking in different languages like Mandarin, Yiddish, or Haitian Creole. However, it’s not Adams’ linguistic prowess at play but artificial intelligence (AI).
What Happened: The mayor’s office is using an AI voice cloning software called Voice Lab to generate the calls, which have proven quite persuasive, Business Insider reported.
“People stop me on the street all the time and they say ‘I didn’t know you speak Mandarin,'” Adams revealed.
Since March 2022, these AI-powered robocalls have reached over 4 million residents, according to a spokesperson for the mayor. A majority of these calls have been used to notify residents about citywide job fairs and to promote community concerts.
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The initiative aims to directly engage with the city’s diverse population. “Nearly a half of New Yorkers speak a language other than English at home,” Adams emphasized, underscoring the relevance of the multilingual outreach.
Why It Matters: Critics argue that these AI initiatives raise ethical questions. Annika Marlen Hinze, a political science professor at Fordham University, expressed concerns about the potential misrepresentation of the mayor’s language skills. “It’s a whole other issue to pretend or insinuate that you are speaking all those languages yourself, and I see serious ethical concerns there for a mayor who does not speak multiple languages.”
Other advocates also stressed the need for clear guidelines around AI usage by politicians.
Despite concerns, Adams remains optimistic about the role of AI in improving city operations. “Take a deep breath, get a grip, it’s going to help us function better in the city,” he reassured.
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