Stop AI is an American activist organization formed in 2024. Based in Oakland, California,[1] it seeks to ban the development of artificial general intelligence, a hypothetical technology being researched by some companies, including OpenAI.[2]
Some Stop AI members have been arrested for blocking doors to OpenAI offices as protest.[3][4] In November of 2025, the San Francisco Public Defender's Office delivered a subpoena to Sam Altman, as part of an ongoing trial of Stop AI members, while Altman appeared on stage at a public event.[5]
According to a Stop AI leader, in late 2025, Stop AI co-founder Sam Kirchner punched him due to disagreement about the organization; Kirchner was subsequently expelled from the group,[4] and disappeared days later.[6] OpenAI and local police were contacted following Kirchner's disappearance, due to fears of a potentially violent attack, causing the lockdown of San Francisco offices.[7] No attack on OpenAI offices materialized, and Sam Kirchner remains missing as of November 21, 2025.[4][8][9]
References
- ↑ "The 'unhinged' group at the edge of the AI debate". POLITICO. 2025-12-04. Retrieved 2026-02-28.
- ↑ "AI activists seek ban on Artificial General Intelligence". Archived from the original on 2026-01-17. Retrieved 2026-02-28.
- ↑ "Can you fight the AI apocalypse without losing your mind?". sfstandard.com. 2025-12-11. Retrieved 2026-02-28.
- 1 2 3 Council, Stephen (9 December 2025). "Bay Area tech activist's dramatic disappearance leads to grueling search". SF Gate. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
- ↑ "Sam Altman apparently subpoenaed moments into SF talk with Steve Kerr". sfgate.com. 2025-11-04. Retrieved 2026-04-07.
- ↑ Tiffany, Kaitlyn (2025-12-04). "The Strange Disappearance of an Anti-AI Activist". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2026-02-28.
- ↑ Schiffer, Zoë. "OpenAI Locks Down San Francisco Offices Following Alleged Threat From Activist". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2026-02-28.
- ↑ Shugerman, Emily; Lamb, Jonah Owen (2 December 2025). "Cops still searching for 'volatile' activist whose death threats shut down OpenAI office". The San Francisco Standard. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
- ↑ Elinson, Zusha (11 July 2026). "The Hard-Line Activists Ramping Up for the War With AI". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
