What happened
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was served a subpoena onstage during a public conversation with Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr in San Francisco on November 3, 2025. A man identifying himself as an employee of the San Francisco Public Defenderâs Office attempted to deliver the subpoena but was stopped by the event host and security. The subpoena relates to Altman being called as a potential witness in an ongoing criminal case involving the protest group Stop AI.
Why it matters
- The subpoena highlights legal actions connected to protests against artificial intelligence development.
- It underscores growing tensions between AI companies and activist groups concerned about AIâs societal impact.
- The incident publicly draws attention to the criminal case involving Stop AIâs non-violent protests against OpenAI.
Key facts
- 1. The event occurred on November 3, 2025, at the Sydney Goldstein Theater in San Francisco.
- 2. The subpoena was served by an investigator from the San Francisco Public Defenderâs Office on behalf of Stop AI.
- 3. Stop AI members have been arrested multiple times for blocking OpenAIâs offices and roads in non-violent protests.
