Tech Giants Face Street Protest Over AI Growth

San Francisco Protest Turns Spotlight on AI Power

Protesters marched through downtown San Francisco, weaving between the headquarters of OpenAI, Anthropic and Google DeepMind. Their mission was simple: halt the launch of new AI models that push the limits of power and complexity.

The event, organized by Stop the AI Race, blended concerns over machine safety with worries about job cuts, the climate impact of data centers and the rising cost of living in the city.

Former AI scientist Michaël Trazzi, founder of the group, urged leaders to pause training while keeping current systems running. He also called for a focus on safety and alignment research until stronger rules are in place.

“I moved from trying to convince CEOs directly to hoping they listen after sharing posts and talking with them,” Trazzi explained. “The protests show that people care.”

Earlier in March, about 200 activists walked the same streets to call for a coordinated halt on frontier AI. Since then, the movement has grown with support from health worker unions and local tech‑activist groups.

The protest followed OpenAI’s addition of safety tools to ChatGPT in May—designed to spot self‑harm or violent content. The company has faced lawsuits over earlier mishandling of dangerous conversations.

No response has yet come from OpenAI, Anthropic or DeepMind. The organizers plan to push for an international pause and stronger government oversight of advanced AI systems.