Analog Activism: Kicking AI Out of New York (nowvoyagermag.com)

In May, a protest against artificial intelligence, focused on OpenAI and its ChatGPT platform, took place in New York City's Sara D. Roosevelt Park. Organized by groups like QuitGPT and the Luddites of NYC, the event garnered around forty participants who voiced their concerns over the rapid pace of AI development and its implications for democracy. Activists, including engineer Bryce Robinson, criticized AI companies for evading regulation and likened their tactics to those used by exploitative Victorian industries, emphasizing that current technologies could undermine democratic processes and amplify corporate power. The protest featured whimsical yet pointed actions, such as a mock exorcism involving a puppet representing OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, and the symbolic creation of a “data center” made from cardboard boxes. Demonstrators expressed their fears about AI's potential misuse, particularly in areas like automated weaponry, while also lamenting the impact on creativity and social fabric. This event underscores a growing movement within the AI/ML community advocating for thoughtful regulation and raising awareness of the societal risks posed by unchecked AI advancement.