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xAI· 2 min read

NYC City Council subpoenas SpaceXAI for Oct. 5 AI safety hearing

Speaker Julie Menin issued a subpoena on Sept. 28 requiring Elon or a SpaceXAI representative to testify under oath on Oct. 5. Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, and Meta have agreed to appear.

Why it matters: A rare Council-wide hearing will put SpaceXAI under oath beside other major AI firms on city AI safety bills.

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Flat editorial illustration of a muted civic hearing chamber with abstract shield and circuit motifs in calm blues and grays

Illustration: NYC Council AI safety hearing and the SpaceXAI subpoena.

Beam42 / AI-generated

The New York City Council issued a subpoena on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, requiring Elon or another SpaceXAI representative to testify under oath at a Committee of the Whole hearing on Monday, Oct. 5. Speaker Julie Menin said SpaceXAI had not responded to an earlier Council inquiry, so the Council moved to compel attendance, according to the Council press release.

Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, and Meta have agreed to appear. The hearing will convene all 51 Council members to examine AI safety risks and possible city legislation, including proposals such as a whistleblower incentive program, a private right of action for New Yorkers harmed by AI agents, and independent third-party validation requirements, the Council said. CNBC reported the same hearing date and that Elon or a SpaceXAI representative was named in the subpoena.

Confirmed

  • Subpoena issued Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, to SpaceXAI / Elon (or a representative) for testimony under oath (NYC Council, CNBC).
  • Committee of the Whole hearing set for Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, with all 51 members (NYC Council).
  • Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, and Meta have agreed to appear (NYC Council, CNBC).
  • Stated purpose: assess AI safety risks and take input on possible city legislation (NYC Council).
  • If SpaceXAI does not comply, the Council may seek enforcement in New York State Supreme Court (NYC Council).

Not confirmed

  • Whether SpaceXAI will send Elon or another representative, or how it will respond to the subpoena. The company had not replied publicly in the Council's release.
  • What specific questions Council members will ask, or whether any bills will advance after the hearing.

What to watch

  • Whether SpaceXAI appears on Oct. 5, and who testifies for the company.
  • Any follow-up if the company does not comply, including a possible enforcement action in New York State Supreme Court.
  • What Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, and Meta say under oath about AI risks and the Council's draft bills.
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