SpaceXAI, the artificial intelligence unit tied to Elon Musk’s business empire, has agreed to testify before the New York City Council this Friday.. The move follows a subpoena issued after the company failed to attend a previous hearing on AI safety risks.
The September 28 subpoena and the threat of the NY State Supreme Court
The New York City Council issued a formal subpoena to SpaceXAI on September 28 after the company failed to appear at an initial hearing.. as the report notes, the Council had previously warned it would petition the New York State Supreme Court to force compliance if the company continued to ignore the demand. This legal escalation was intended to ensure that SpaceXAI joined other industry leaders like OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and Meta in addressing safety concerns.
Council Speaker Julie Menin characterized the company's initial absence as "unacceptable," arguing that the public deserves direct answers regarding safeguards and accountability.. Menin emphasized that self-regulation is insufficient for technologies of this magnitude, stating that New Yorkers deserve to know how companies will be held responsible when safeguards fail.
Jacob Coxon’s warning of a 10% extinction risk
During the previous hearing, former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon provided a stark assessment of the current trajectory of artificial intelligence development. Coxon testified that there is a greater than 10% chance that AI could lead to human extinction, citing the "move fast, break things" culture prevalent in the industry .
The testimony highlighted fears that unchecked AI could lead to catastrophic outcomes, including bioengineered plauges or government takeovers. Coxon argued that while a startup mindset might work for photo-sharing apps, it is dangerously recklless when applied to the most powerful technology ever built. He suggested that the current path of development prioritizes speed over the fundamental safety of the human race.
The global scrutiny from UK MP Jess Asato
The concerns regarding SpaceXAI extend beyond New York's borders, as evidenced by the participation of UK Member of Parliament Jess Asato. Asato traveled to testify against the company's previous absence, describing the lack of participation as a "shame."
Councilwoman Carmen De La Rosa , who chairs the committee on technology, emphasized that as Musk’s technology expands at the federal level, local discussions regarding data privacy and whistleblower protections become increasingly vital. De La Rosa alleged that SpaceXAI had attempted to circumvent the public conversation regarding the dangers inherent in rapid AI proliferation.
Who will represent SpaceXAI at the Friday hearing?
Despite the agreement to testify, it remains unknown which specific individuals will represent SpaceXAI at the upcoming Friday hearing. The report indicates that the Council has reached out to company representatives to clarify who will be appearing to answer the committee's questions.
This lack of clarity follows a pattern seen in the previous session, where representatives from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and Meta provided few definitive answers. Specifically, those companies declined to quantify the potential risks of a worst-case scenario event, leaving significant gaps in the public's understanding of how these corporations manage existential threats.
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