New York City has approved one of the nation’s most sweeping local AI governance laws, unanimously passing the GUARD Act, a legislative package aimed at bringing full transparency, accountability, and oversight to the city’s use of artificial intelligence tools.

The centerpiece of the legislation is the creation of an independent Office of Algorithmic Data Accountability, which will review, audit, and monitor AI systems before and after they are deployed by city agencies. The office will also be required to investigate public complaints and publish a directory of every AI tool it evaluates, giving New Yorkers unprecedented visibility into how automated decision-making is used in government.

Council member Jennifer Gutierrez, who chairs the technology committee and championed the bill, said the law provides critical guardrails at a moment when AI has become a prominent political and public concern.

“We just got through a campaign cycle here, and [AI] was a big topic,” Gutierrez said. “I think everyone wants to get behind more transparency and a better-functioning government that’s going to protect people.”

Alongside establishing the new watchdog office, the GUARD Act sets mandatory citywide standards requiring agencies to conduct fairness testing, undergo independent evaluations, and protect residents’ data privacy before deploying any AI system.