New York lawmaker says AI's everyday harms matter as much as doomsday fears

A New York state senator says the biggest AI risks may be the ones already in your home, not the science-fiction ones. Kristen Gonzalez, who represents parts of Queens, told the Queens Daily Eagle that fears of a future catastrophe can distract from how AI tools are built and used today. She points to higher costs, a strained power grid and mental health.

Who she is and what she argues

Gonzalez is a former tech worker. She now chairs the state Senate's Committee on Internet and Technology. She says many New Yorkers want AI to improve their lives but have not seen that yet. Worries about job loss, water and energy use, and an AI-driven disaster are worth legislating against, she said. But she argues they can help big AI companies change the subject.

"It's not just the existential threats, but it's the everyday uses that are also existential for families," she said.

Power bills and data centers

Data centers are large buildings full of computers that run AI. A Siena University poll found more than 60 percent of New Yorkers oppose AI data centers in their communities. Gonzalez says the effects reach beyond upstate towns. She says utility bills are already too high and the aging power grid is struggling to keep up with current demand.

According to the article, power plants across the state, including in Queens, are running more often to meet new AI demand. Gonzalez linked nearby fossil fuel plants to asthma and premature births. She supported Gov. Kathy Hochul's pause on new data center construction.

What has already happened

• In October, Hochul signed a Gonzalez bill aimed at making AI chatbots safer for kids.
• Gonzalez co-sponsored the RAISE Act with Brooklyn Sen. Andrew Gounardes.
• She also sponsored the FAIR Act. The article says both laws put controls on the AI industry and how it is used in local elections.

Pushback from the industry

Gonzalez says big tech has blocked federal rules and lobbied against state and local bills. She said that when she presents a bill, companies reply, "But not like that." She called the recent City Council hearing with AI company representatives more of the same stock answers.

She is not against the technology. She uses AI for low-risk tasks like planning itineraries. She wants it used for public good, such as health research, and as a tool that makes work easier but does not replace people.

What is not clear yet

The article does not spell out what the kids' chatbot law requires or when it takes effect. It also does not say how long the data center pause lasts. Gonzalez said she will keep pushing for more AI regulation, but the available text cuts off before naming the next specific measures.