Openai's devday in san francisco sparks protests over AI data center safety

On September 30, 2026, OpenAI's annual DevDay event in San Francisco opened amid significant protests. Over 15 organizations, including Bay Resistance, Tech Workers Coalition, and SEIU, gathered outside the Fort Mason event entrance. Protesters, dressed in cardboard robot costumes and wielding sickle props, displayed slogans such as 'People Over AI.' The demonstrations focused on concerns about the environmental impact of data centers and the concentration of power within the AI industry. A protest flyer demanded that AI data centers maintain a 'safe distance' of over 100 miles from residential areas, approximately 160.9 kilometers. The event marked a continuation of public scrutiny over OpenAI's expansion plans and their potential societal implications.