Sam Altman’s onstage subpoena drama sets internet on fire

Sam Altman had an unexpectedly dramatic moment after he was served a subpoena live onstage during a public event in San Francisco.

Earlier this week, the OpenAI CEO was speaking with Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr at the Sydney Goldstein Theater when a man suddenly climbed onto the stage and announced, “I have a subpoena for Sam Altman,” prompting loud boos from the audience.

Altman did not accept the document, and security immediately escorted the man away. 

“Wow, getting off to a dramatic start already,” moderator Manny Yekutiel said, attempting to calm the crowd.

Contrary to initial assumptions, the incident was not a prank. The San Francisco Public Defender’s Office later confirmed that the individual was one of its investigators and that the subpoena was authentic.

“An investigator lawfully served a subpoena on Mr. Altman because he is a potential witness in a pending criminal case,” spokesperson Valerie Ibarra told SFGate.

She added that multiple prior attempts to deliver the subpoena at OpenAI’s headquarters had failed.

Shortly after the incident, activist group Stop AI claimed responsibility for coordinating the service. Several members of the organisation are currently on trial for repeatedly blocking OpenAI staff from entering the company’s offices during a series of protests earlier this year.

They argue their demonstrations are acts of non-violent civil resistance aimed at halting the development of artificial superintelligence.

The subpoena requires Altman to appear in court for the trial, a case the group insists could determine “the future survival of humanity,” reflecting their belief that unchecked AI development poses existential risks.