NYC may require landlords and realtors to disclose the use of AI in listings (petapixel.com)

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.

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

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.

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)

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

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.

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

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.

Please pass that law in France too.

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

Hopefully that will serve as a virtuous example.

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.

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

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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)

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.

Isn’t the more thorough solution banning deceptive product advertising?

It feels like this is already a whole thing that should already be solved.

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?

Are protections really this weak in New York?

Where I live even using Photoshop for real estate advertisements is illegal, nevermind AI.

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.

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

Love the guy but let’s try something that doesn’t restrict freedom of the press!

We love restricting our enemies, but there are better ways.

I propose banning rent at all!

Shit, we're still doing photos? Do a video, make a gaussian splat of it, and do virtual walkthroughs. matterport but for cheap.