San Francisco protesters urge OpenAI and Anthropic to halt AI development

Protesters in San Francisco urged OpenAI and Anthropic to halt advanced AI development, demanding stronger safeguards and international rules amid safety and climate concerns. The 17 September march began outside OpenAI’s headquarters, moved to Anthropic’s offices, and ended at City Hall, where organizers asked Mayor Daniel Lurie to declare a local AI emergency. They also called for a global treaty limiting AI capabilities and urged employees to quit. The protest followed OpenAI’s disclosure of six concerning model behaviors and highlighted data center energy use. It coincided with Dreamforce, where AI leaders spoke, and passed a Waymo vehicle, underscoring AI’s growing daily presence.