📍Introducing NYC Field Notes with Jonathan Bensimon

He's one of the most consistent attendees of NY tech events. Now, we are so lucky to have him in our pages reporting the live, gnarly, frenetic pulse of AI in NYC.

There’s a specific kind of knowledge that only comes from showing up.

Not reading about what happened. Not scrolling the discourse. Actually being in the room — at the demo, the talk, the meetup — and coming back with something useful.

That’s what Jonathan Bensimon does better than anyone else I know. He moves through NYC’s tech scene with intention, capturing signal where others see noise. Starting next Wednesday, he’s bringing those observations to Cities Decoded through a new weekly series: NYC Field Notes.

What you’ll get

Every week, Jon will publish a short, focused recap from the events and conversations shaping New York’s tech ecosystem covering topics like:

• What happened — the talk, the demo, the gathering

• What people are actually saying — quotes, concerns, predictions

• What surprised him — the unexpected insight or shift in the room

• What to watch — his take on what matters next

Think of it as your weekly intelligence briefing from the ground. Short, scannable, actionable.

Take a look at his latest content here with Creator Economy NYC!

Additionally, every now and then, Jon and I will chat over video to go deeper on what’s emerging in NY AI and why it matters.

Why this matters

New York is one of the most concentrated environments for tech, startups, AI, and culture. But unless you’re actually in rooms, most of what’s happening stays invisible until it’s already news.

Jon can give the Cities Decoded community clear-eyed visibility on what’s actually being built, tested, and talked about in real time.

First NYC Field Notes drops next week. If you care about what’s really happening in one of the world’s most important tech ecosystems, subscribe to Cities Decoded!

Past partnership announcements

• With elif nisa polat — community and AI insights, the ‘humans beyond the tech,’ every other Sunday

• With “The Era Arc” — weekday updates, the ‘daily TEA,’ on AI from a NY-based creator (sent as email on Mon, Tues, and Fri. All editions available on Cities Decoded Substack page)

• With Notion — 3 months of Notion AI free for your startup!