Saturday, October 11, 2025

Small Nonprofit Behind California’s AI Safety Law Accuses OpenAI of Intimidation Tactics

Nathan Calvin, the 29-year-old general counsel of the AI policy nonprofit Encode, accused OpenAI of using intimidation tactics against critics while California’s SB 53, the Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act, was debated. In a viral social media thread, Calvin claimed OpenAI leveraged its lawsuit with Elon Musk to undermine critics, suggesting Encode was secretly funded by Musk—an assertion he denied. OpenAI’s head of mission alignment, Justin Achaim, also joined the discourse, expressing concerns about the company’s tactics. Subsequent discussions included alarm over OpenAI’s subpoenas demanding extensive communication records from Calvin and others involved in SB 53. Calvin alleged OpenAI aimed to weaken regulations that ensure AI developers meet transparency and safety standards. He emphasized that Encode does not receive Musk’s funding and criticized OpenAI’s handling of the situation, citing it as “the most stressful period” of his professional life and questioning the alignment of OpenAI’s actions with its nonprofit mission.

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