NYC Using AI to Create Robocalls with Mayor Adams' Voice, Spurring Privacy Concerns

New York City is using AI to create robocalls with Mayor Eric Adams' simulated voice in different languages like Spanish, Yiddish, and Mandarin.

The calls encourage people to apply for city jobs or attend community events, but privacy advocates criticize them as "deeply Orwellian."

Adams introduced a chatbot to potentially handle basic 311 calls about things like parking to reduce wait times.

The robocalls cost about $32,000 and the chatbot cost $600,000 to develop.

Critics warn Adams' voice could be used to spread disinformation and that it seems like a tactic for his 2025 reelection, not serving the public.