Mayor Mamdani Cracks Down on Landlords Using AI Images to Advertise Properties
Mayor Mamdani Says Landlords Can't Use AI Images to Advertise
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is targeting deceptive landlord practices by mandating the disclosure of AI-generated or edited images in rental listings. Following thousands of tenant testimonies at Rental Ripoff Hearings, the administration released a report demanding transparency to prevent tenants from being misled by unrealistic property photos, especially when signing leases remotely.
From requiring disclosure of AI-altered listings to bringing our code enforcement systems into the 21st century and finally recognizing tenant unions, we are making it clear that every New Yorker deserves a safe home.
- plants
This is awesome! StreetEasy is how many New Yorkers find apartments. In the past few years, it has been flooded with AI-staged apartments. The AI stagings warp the room to fit furniture that would 100% certainly not fit there. It’s deceptive, and I’m glad it at least requires disclosure now (although I wish it were fully banned)
- avaer
There's several other areas that would be good to categorically ban AI usage from:
- gambling
- dating
- hiring
- advertising
It shouldn't even be controversial that this would be broadly good for society.
I say that as an AI maximalist: I fully trust AI with these things. I do not trust the humans using the AI.
- Art9681
I am a big supporter of AI and use it heavily. I agree with this. It's not about AI at all. It's about a blanket ban to prevent deceit when selling a product or service. It should be depicted as it is. AI just lowers the barrier for deceit (unfortunately), but it's not the only tool that can be used towards that end. Ban all deceitful advertising.
- Waterluvian
Isn’t the more thorough solution banning deceptive product advertising?
It feels like this is already a whole thing that should already be solved.
- mcv
Wasn't that already implicitly the case? Aren't there laws against deceptive advertising?
It sounds like an incredibly sensible rule. But is this something a mayor can just declare? Isn't this something aa legislative body has to decide?
- nubg
Wait, this seems to be just about _disclosing_ the use of AI?
So realtor websites will get a tiny footer saying "image experience may be enhanced with AI"
(note my skilled use of "may" which actually means "are always 100% of the time"... ugh i hate it so much)
- throw03172019
This is a frustrating trend with real estate agents on their MLS pictures. Sure, they have a disclaimer (most of the time) but at a thumbnail size as the lead image, it’s not possible to see it’s AI. Which leads to clicking on a complete BS listing.
- Ozzie_osman
I would personally love to see an end to the universally existing bait-and-switch of brokers listing unavailable units just to get you on the phone, then when you contact them, saying "Oh sorry that unit just got rented (or sold), but, I have another one that might suit you"