Zohran Mamdani denies AI use in Mandarin promotional video

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has faced intense social media scrutiny following the release of a promotional video in which he speaks Mandarin to announce a giveaway of 2,000 free Broadway tickets for local high school students.

The 41-second clip, which has garnered millions of views, features Mamdani speaking with clear pronunciation and tones. While many native speakers praised his diction, others raised suspicions that the video was created using artificial intelligence or heavily edited. Some observers noted the rhythm of his speech felt “slow” or “stiff.”

Mamdani’s press secretary, Joe Calvello, issued a formal denial on X, stating, “And just to be clear this is NOT AI.” A spokesperson further clarified to the New York Times that the Mayor studied Mandarin at the Bronx High School of Science but had not used the language since graduating in 2010. Local officials and observers suggested the performance was likely the result of diligent rehearsal.