New York City Artists Press Mamdani for a Two-Year AI Moratorium in Public Schools
A coalition of roughly 500 New York City artists and cultural workers is asking Mayor Zohran Mamdani to halt artificial intelligence in public schools for two years, escalating a debate that has moved quickly from classrooms to City Hall. In an open letter released by the AI Moratorium Coalition, signatories including Nan Goldin, Laurie Simmons, Carroll Dunham, Jerry Saltz, and Molly Crabapple argue that the technology is “built on theft” and has already “invaded the city’s classrooms.”
The letter frames the issue as both cultural and educational. It cites studies suggesting that tools such as ChatGPT can dull critical thinking and creativity during the formative years of elementary and high school, while also warning that AI systems may expose students to data harvesting, privacy risks, and bias. The appeal to Mamdani is pointed: “We’re calling on you to stand up for the children of this city,” the letter says, describing students as “natural-born creatives” whose future should not be sacrificed to enrich the world’s wealthiest people.
The campaign has gained traction beyond the arts community. A City Council oversight hearing scheduled for today will examine data privacy and security concerns tied to AI in public schools. The Council already has majority support for a pause on generative AI until “rigorous guardrails” can be developed with public and expert input, according to a June 9 letter sent to the mayor. A petition supporting the moratorium has also collected more than 4,000 signatures from parents and educators across New York City.
The broader argument is now familiar across education policy circles: AI may offer convenience, but its costs are increasingly difficult to ignore. The Brookings Institution has said the risks of generative AI in children’s education outweigh its benefits at this stage, even as some schools nationwide adopt tools such as Magic School and Khanmigo. Kelly Clancy, founder of Parents for AI Caution in Educational Spaces and a member of AIM, has said Google Gemini is installed on most computers in New York City schools and that HMH includes AI elements.
For Mamdani, the letter turns a technical policy question into a public test of values. The outcome could shape how New York City schools approach AI, and whether the city becomes a model for other districts weighing the same uneasy trade-offs.
