SpaceX is sending Gabriela Castillo Madrid to testify before the New York City Council about AI safety. Her job title is head of global government affairs for AI. That's a real position that exists at a rocket company.
The New York City Council is investigating AI safety. They're doing this by asking a lobbyist from a company that launches satellites to explain artificial intelligence. This is like asking your plumber about tax law because he once fixed a pipe in an accountant's office.
Castillo Madrid works in government affairs. Government affairs means you get paid to talk to people who write laws so they don't write laws that hurt your company. It's lobbying with a business card that sounds less like lobbying.
SpaceX makes rockets. They also apparently have opinions about AI regulation in New York City. The connection between launching Starlink satellites and whatever the f*ck the New York City Council thinks it's regulating is unclear. But sure, let's get the rocket company's take on chatbot safety.
The hearing will feature a woman whose job is to represent SpaceX's interests explaining to local politicians why they should or shouldn't regulate technology. This is governance. People in a room asking questions they don't understand to someone paid to give answers that benefit a corporation. Then everyone goes to lunch and declares victory.
Retail traders are probably reading this headline and thinking it's bullish for AI stocks. They're googling "SpaceX AI exposure" and checking if there's a leveraged ETF that tracks municipal oversight hearings. There isn't. But give it six months and some issuer will create one with a 2% expense ratio.
The City Council will ask questions. Castillo Madrid will answer them. Nothing will change. AI will continue doing whatever AI does. SpaceX will keep launching rockets. And every single person involved will pretend this testimony mattered.
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