- Mamdani calls business 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 an enterprise chatbot launched under Mayor Eric Adams’ administration, calling it “functionally unusable.”
At a recent press conference about the city’s $12 billion budget gap, Mamdani said the chatbot was costing the city about half a million dollars and providing unreliable guidance to business owners.
The bot, called MyCity Chatbot, was originally designed to serve as a productivity tool for business owners, helping them navigate city rules and regulations.
Chatbot gave false and illegal answers
Test by Dialing and the city in 2024 it was discovered that he regularly provided inaccurate or potentially illegal advice.
For example, he suggested that landlords could discriminate against Section 8 tenants and incorrectly warned businesses that refusing cash payments was acceptable, despite the city’s law.
The tool also misrepresented labor standards, such as the minimum wage, and recommended actions that could expose business owners to legal risks.
Mamdani cited these repeated failures as the main justification for his decision to cancel the service.
After initial reports, the Adams administration defended the chatbot and promised future improvements.
“We’re identifying what the problems are, we’ll fix them, and we’ll have the best chatbot system in the world,” Adams said.
However, the city later added disclaimers warning users not to rely on the bot for legal or professional advice.
The chatbot also restricted the types of questions it would 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 aimed at streamlining access to city services.
The foundation reportedly cost nearly $600,000, with ongoing maintenance adding more expenses, although exact figures remain unclear.
Beyond financial concerns, the system relied heavily on outside contractors and complex office software, contributing to inefficiencies and limited usability.
Despite several restrictions and updates, the tool allegedly continued to produce harmful or incorrect guidance.
Mamdani’s decision highlights the risks of deploying automated systems as public-facing tools without adequate oversight.
Through the city
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