Gonzalez pushes AI rules to protect Queens residents from rising utility costs

State Senator Kristen Gonzalez says New Yorkers are feeling the weight of artificial intelligence development through higher utility bills and environmental strain. Her office is currently drafting legislation to manage these costs before they become unmanageable for working families in the tri-borough district.

Gonzalez, who previously worked in the technology sector, now chairs the Committee on Internet and Technology. She notes that more than 60 percent of New Yorkers oppose building AI data centers in their neighborhoods, according to a recent Siena University poll. This sentiment reflects a widespread desire for tangible benefits that residents have not yet realized.

The senator argues that public fear often focuses on distant, catastrophic scenarios. She believes this attention diverts lawmakers from addressing immediate issues like energy consumption and mental health impacts. She wants to ensure the technology serves as a tool for daily life rather than a replacement for human labor.

Gonzalez has sponsored several bills to regulate the industry. These include the RAISE and FAIR Acts, which aim to control how AI is used in local elections and general business practices. She co-sponsored the RAISE Act with Senator Andrew Gounardes from Brooklyn. In October, Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill sponsored by Gonzalez to improve safety standards for children using AI chatbots.

The state recently implemented a moratorium on data center construction, a move Gonzalez supported. She points out that while major companies may not build massive facilities in Queens, the increased demand for power affects the entire grid. Power plants in the borough are running more frequently to meet this new load.

This increased reliance on existing infrastructure has real health consequences. Gonzalez says her constituents suffer from asthma and other issues linked to proximity to fossil fuel plants. She states that the cost of running AI should not be paid by residents breathing polluted air. The energy grid is aging and already close to rolling blackouts due to current demand.

Gonzalez criticizes large tech companies for lobbying against meaningful state and local regulations. She observed that executives recently testified before the City Council with responses that she called boilerplate. She believes these firms often claim to want government oversight while simultaneously working to block specific bills that would hold them accountable.

Despite her skepticism, Gonzalez continues to use AI for low-risk tasks like planning travel itineraries. She supports the AI Literacy Act, which would fund safety education in classrooms. Her goal is to set terms for innovation that prioritize public health and economic stability over unchecked corporate growth.