NYC Council Subpoenas SpaceXAI, Orders Testimony at October 5 AI Safety Hearing

New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin issued a subpoena to SpaceXAI on Monday after the company failed to respond to the council's requests to testify under oath about artificial intelligence safety risks. The subpoena compels SpaceXAI to send a representative to appear at a Committee of the Whole hearing scheduled for Monday, October 5, when all 51 council members will convene.

What the Hearing Will Cover

Council leaders say the session will examine the threats posed by advanced AI to public safety, cybersecurity, economic stability, privacy, consumers, and local businesses. Lawmakers will also review proposed legislation, including a whistleblower incentive program, a private right of action for New Yorkers harmed by AI agents, and requirements for independent third-party validation of AI systems.

Timeline and Who Is Testifying

The council sent letters requesting voluntary attendance between September 15 and 17 and set a September 25 deadline for responses. When several companies did not commit by that date, the council authorized subpoenas for remaining firms on Monday morning. OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and Meta ultimately agreed to provide representatives; OpenAI and Google committed on Sunday and Anthropic confirmed hours before subpoenas were to be served. SpaceXAI did not respond and received its subpoena on Monday. The council said it may seek enforcement through the New York State Supreme Court if SpaceXAI refuses to comply.

"Leading experts and AI executives themselves are warning about the potentially grave risks of rapidly advancing AI, and governments have a responsibility to act," Menin said. "Given the high stakes, these firms owe it to the public to come before the Council, answer our questions, and provide input on our proposed legislation under oath."

Legal Pressure on SpaceXAI

The subpoena comes amid growing legal scrutiny of SpaceXAI's Grok model. Multiple lawsuits allege Grok generated nonconsensual deepfake pornographic images of real people, according to CNBC. Baltimore city officials have accused SpaceXAI of misleading consumers about the safety of Grok's image tools in violation of consumer protection laws, and a group of teenagers has filed a proposed class-action complaint claiming Grok produced sexualized depictions of them.

Industry Context

The move follows a tense period across the AI industry. Elon Musk proposed that major AI developers test each other's models before public release, arguing that cross-testing could help avoid labs policing their own safety practices. That suggestion arrived amid a wave of warnings from researchers and executives about AI risks and amid resistance from the White House to new regulatory constraints on AI development.

What Happens Next: If SpaceXAI does not comply with the subpoena, the council may pursue enforcement in state court. The hearing on October 5 will give New York City's elected officials an opportunity to question major AI labs under oath and consider new municipal safeguards for AI use.