OpenAI DevDay 2026 Opens in San Francisco Amid Protests by 15+ Organizations

OpenAI's 2026 DevDay kicked off in San Francisco on September 30, drawing protests from more than 15 organizations outside the Fort Mason venue. Groups including Bay Resistance, Tech Workers Coalition, and SEIU gathered at the event entrance.

Protesters displayed signs reading "People Over AI" and wore cardboard robot costumes while holding prop scythes, criticizing the concentration of power in the AI industry and the environmental impact of data centers. One flyer demanded that AI data centers be located at least 100 miles (about 160.9 km) away from residential areas.

The Verge reported on the protest in a blog post on September 30.