New York City is holding a high-stakes hearing on artificial intelligence today. Here is what it is about and why it matters. The City Council called the hearing to discuss the dangers of fast-moving AI. Lawmakers are weighing a package of bills to set safeguards around the technology. The star witness is Jacob Coxon, a former Anthropic researcher. He quit last month with a dramatic warning. He said the people building AI believe it could kill humanity by the end of the decade. Council Speaker Julie Menin invited whistleblowers to testify. The big companies first refused to come. Google, OpenAI and Anthropic agreed only after the council threatened subpoenas. Meta agreed earlier. Elon Musk’s SpaceXAI stayed silent, so the council issued an order forcing it to attend. The hearing reflects a wider industry split. Anthropic’s CEO wants the industry to slow down. OpenAI’s Sam Altman says AI’s benefits justify accepting some risks. What happens in New York could shape how cities regulate AI worldwide.