According to The Verge, OpenAI's DevDay in San Francisco began with a protest outside the Fort Mason venue. Demonstrators marched in a circle while chanting about putting people over profit, and signs spelled out 'PEOPLE OVER PROFIT.' The rally was sponsored by more than a dozen organizations, including the Tech Workers Coalition, SEIU, and the San Francisco Labor Council.
Protesters focused on OpenAI's contracts with ICE and the military, along with the environmental costs of data centers. A large sign demanded that OpenAI drop its ICE contract, and flyers called on attendees to sign a pledge to end such agreements. Other signs accused the company of building 'killer robots' for ICE and contributing to climate destruction.
The Verge reports that the protest reflects a bipartisan movement concerned about the concentration of power in the AI industry and the lack of government regulation. It also comes amid low public trust in AI, following recent incidents in which 'rogue' AI systems allegedly hacked competitors' networks and accessed personal data. The article notes that boycott groups such as QuitGPT have formed, and in extreme cases, individuals have attempted to attack AI executives at their homes.