The city was testing a chatbot on NYC.gov,

Mamdani Eliminates Dysfunctional ChatBot

January 30, 2026

In January 2026, Zohran Mamdani suggested terminating a city program whose defects had first been revealed by THE CITY and a partner media outlet, The Markup. Looking for ways to close New York’s budget deficit, Mamdani said he would eliminate the city’s malfunctioning AI chatbot. 

The chatbot, released in 2023 by former Mayor Adams, was meant to help business owners check city rules and regulations.

The Markup and THE CITY reported that the AI-powered bot consistently provided false information and damaging guidance that would lead to illegal business practices, like taking a cut of employees’ tips. It also cost a whopping $600,000 to build.

The mayoral transition team had seen reporting on the bot from The Markup and THE CITY, and introduced it to Mamdani as a potential area to cut costs.  As of February 5, the city has taken down the chatbot.

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