OpenAI CEO Was Almost Served a Subpoena During a Public Event

• An unidentified man attempted to hand the CEO of OpenAI a subpoena at an event featuring Steve Kerr.
• The Stop AI group took responsibility, claiming the subpoena was related to their actions against OpenAI.
• The entrepreneur and the company have not commented on the situation.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was subjected to a surprise subpoena attempt during a public appearance in San Francisco. The event was streamed online and focused on leadership and innovation.

According to meeting organizer Manny Yekutiel, a man came on stage immediately after Altman and Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr sat down next to him. The unidentified man held up a piece of paper and claimed he had a subpoena for the head of OpenAI.

The host intervened, took the document and handed it to security personnel.

Despite the man’s abrupt appearance, the event continued for over an hour without further incident. According to those in attendance, Altman and Kerr looked surprised, but the situation quickly returned to normal.

Stop AI, a group that advocates for a ban on the development of artificial superintelligence (AGI), has claimed responsibility for the incident. In a statement, the organization said the subpoena is related to their lawsuit for non-aggressive actions against OpenAI, including blocking the company’s office.

The activists say their goal is to draw attention to the threat AI can pose to humanity.

Stop AI describes itself as a “non-violent civil resistance organization” working for a permanent ban on the development of artificial superintelligence. According to the group, this will prevent threats of massive job losses, human extinction, and other negative consequences.

At the time of writing, Sam Altman and company representatives had no official comment on the incident.

In October 2025, OpenAI announced that it had completed its recapitalization. As part of this process, it divided its assets between the nonprofit OpenAI Foundation and for-profit corporation OpenAI Group. The new structure allows the company to attract investments and acquire businesses without the previous legal restrictions.