OpenAI Evacuates San Francisco Office Amid Threat from Stop AI Activist

OpenAI employees in San Francisco were told to stay inside the office on Friday afternoon after the company purportedly received a threat from an individual who was previously associated with the Stop AI activist group. Our information indicates that a name from StopAI has expressed interest in causing physical harm to OpenAI employees, a member of the internal communications team wrote on Slack. He has previously been on site at their San Francisco facilities. According to a police scanner recording archived on the crime app Citizen, the suspect was described by name and allegedly intended to harm others at 550 Terry Francois Boulevard, which is near OpenAI's offices in the Mission Bay neighborhood. San Francisco police received a 911 call just before 11 am about a man allegedly making threats and intending to harm others at the location. The police scanner recording also alleged that the suspect may have purchased weapons with the intention of targeting additional OpenAI locations. Hours before the incident on Friday, the individual who police flagged as allegedly making the threat said he was no longer part of Stop AI in a post on social media. However, the authenticity of this claim is unclear, and OpenAI took the threat seriously, prompting them to lock down their offices. "We take all threats seriously and are working closely with law enforcement to ensure the safety of our employees," said an OpenAI spokesperson in a statement. "We appreciate the swift response of the San Francisco Police Department and are grateful that the situation was resolved without incident." The incident highlights the growing concerns about the potential risks and consequences of advanced artificial intelligence. As AI technology continues to evolve and become more integrated into our daily lives, there is a growing need for responsible development and deployment of these systems. The Stop AI activist group has been vocal about their opposition to the development and deployment of advanced AI, citing concerns about job displacement, bias, and the potential for AI to be used for malicious purposes. While the group's views are not universally accepted, they have sparked important conversations about the ethics and implications of AI. The current status of the situation is that the suspect has been identified and is being investigated by the San Francisco Police Department. OpenAI has resumed normal operations, and employees have been allowed to return to work. However, the incident serves as a reminder of the potential risks and consequences of advanced AI and the need for responsible development and deployment of these systems.