Mayor Mamdani Says Landlords Can't Use AI Images to Advertise

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.

nonethewiser

How does this work? Seems more like a law but cities dont have legislatures. Or … ?

cj

I'm assuming "AI images" means realtors using AI to stage empty rooms with furniture. I'm honestly fine with that as long as it's labeled. Having just done an apartment search a few months ago, AI staged images are surprisingly good quality. It's difficult to detect it as AI when going through a bunch of listings quickly. But yea, I guess it can cause confusion if it sticks a Peloton (or whatever) in a space where it won't actually fit.

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)

sssilver

Isn't literally every photograph taken with a modern iPhone technically an "AI-generated / AI-edited image"?

DangitBobby

HN title is missing the operative word "secretly". The real title: > Mayor Mamdani Says Landlords Can’t Secretly Use AI Images to Advertise Properties The article contents align with the real title: you just disclose AI usage when advertising rentals.

dofm

AI “virtual” staged images are reasonably common on UK property websites now but they have to be labelled, it seems: probably advertising standards rules.

bjackman

Requiring disclosure seems obvious. Using AI for these pics is also not inherently deceptive though. I live in an extremely overheated housing market where properties are usually sold/rented long before they actually get completed. I'm fine with landlords using AI in their renders to make claims about how the place will eventually look. You also see people using AI to put furniture into the image (I assume they are also taking out the furniture that's actually there, belonging to the previous tenant, but doesn't fit their desired aesthetic). Again, nothing _inherently_ deceptive about this. Main thing is just whether tenants are empowered to back out of the contract if they don't get what they were promised. Anyone who e.g. uses AI to expand rooms/windows... Jail please.

maelito

Please pass that law in France too.

Aboutplants

I think this could be something where the middle ground is the best option, this being, just make the rule that any listing with a picture that includes GenAI must also include the original un-AI’d photo right before it. This allows the lister to present the place as it is (important to the renter) and how it could be (important to the lister). I don’t think everything needs to be black and white

NonHyloMorph

Hopefully that will serve as a virtuous example.

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.

mupuff1234

Doesn't this already fall under consumer protection laws? False advertisement & consumer fraud.

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)

nla

Freezes rents but not taxes. Landlords take inventory offline. Studios at $5500. 1 beds at $7500. Yea, he's a real genius of his own mind.

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?

dismalaf

Are protections really this weak in New York? Where I live even using Photoshop for real estate advertisements is illegal, nevermind AI.

profsummergig

I'm generally a fan of laissez-faire. But it's refreshing to see common-sense policies being implemented. Like another comment posted: platform failures need higher-level (govt. in this case) intervention.

DivingForGold

Mamdani will be sued. It's a 1st amendment issue.