Lessons from People's AI Assembly

Lessons Learned

The People's AI Assembly, hosted by the AI Now Institute and More Perfect Union on October 19, 2026, gathered activists, labor leaders, policymakers, and cultural figures to discuss a future where technology empowers working people rather than benefiting tech oligarchs.

Key Highlights and Sessions:

• A People-First AI Agenda (4:50): New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, in conversation with Ilana Glazer, discussed the city's proactive stance on AI. This includes writing rules to protect renters and consumers, and implementing a one-year moratorium on student-facing AI for grades K-8 to ensure technology serves human purpose and dignity.

• Resisting the Big Tech Buildout (20:54): Moderated by Samuel Black, this panel featured Grandell “Bird” Hallett Logan, KeShaun Pearson, and Matthew Rodriguez. The discussion focused on the environmental and social impacts of AI data centers, specifically the massive energy and water consumption that affects local communities.

• Governing AI (53:34): Former FTC Chair Lina Khan, interviewed by Anand Giridharadas, explored the challenges of regulating concentrated market power, the dehumanization inherent in current AI business models, and the need for accountability in the industry.

• Building Worker Power (1:28:15): A panel featuring Bhairavi Desai, Lorena Gonzalez, Noam Scheiber, and Jasmine Sun addressed how labor movements are organizing against the displacement caused by automation and gig-economy platforms like Uber and Waymo.

• Another World is Possible (2:03:55): Naomi Klein and Arundhati Roy, in conversation with Karen Hao, concluded the event by discussing the ideology behind "end times fascism" and tech billionaires' attempts to escape or control the future, urging a return to collective humanity, love, and resistance against corporate globalization.

Unique Insights

The People's AI Assembly provides unique insights into how diverse groups are organizing to challenge the unchecked expansion of the AI industry. Key takeaways from the event include:

• Local Action as a Template: The assembly highlights how local, community-led resistance—such as fighting against data center buildouts in places like El Paso or Western New York—serves as a powerful, replicable model for national and international movements (20:54 - 52:10).

• Policy Innovation: Mayor Zohran Mamdani demonstrates that municipal governments can take bold, protective action, such as implementing a one-year moratorium on student-facing AI in schools, which sets a precedent for other regions to prioritize human dignity over automation (4:50 - 19:10).

• Broadening the Labor Fight: The event emphasizes that the "tech movement" is not just about programmers; it includes writers, gig workers, and community members. It advocates for "class-conscious unionism" to challenge the power of big tech, noting successes like the 2023 Writers Strike (1:28:15 - 1:56:15).

• Reframing the Narrative: Speakers like Naomi Klein and Arundhati Roy warn against the "end times" ideology of tech oligarchs, encouraging a shift from a defensive posture against AI to proactively building a society that meets human needs, making the "end of the world" less appealing (2:03:55 - 2:51:30).

Key Takeaways on AI

The People's AI Assembly presents a critical perspective on the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, emphasizing that its trajectory is a choice, not an inevitability. Here are the key takeaways from the event:

• Policy and Protection: Municipal leaders like New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani demonstrate that local governments can establish essential guardrails. A prime example is the one-year moratorium on student-facing AI in K-8 schools, designed to prioritize human-centric education over automation (4:50 - 19:10).

• Grassroots Resistance: The event highlights the growing movement to challenge the physical and social impacts of AI, such as the construction of energy-intensive data centers that strain local utilities and community resources (20:54 - 52:10).

• Worker Power: Speakers emphasize that the fight against AI-driven displacement is a labor issue. By organizing across sectors—from gig workers to white-collar professionals—unions can demand that technology serves the worker rather than solely maximizing corporate profit (1:28:15 - 1:56:15).

• Challenging the 'End Times' Narrative: Naomi Klein and Arundhati Roy argue against the fatalistic ideology often pushed by tech oligarchs. They urge society to move beyond a defensive stance and instead actively build a shared, sustainable future that emphasizes collective humanity (2:03:55 - 2:51:30).