The tech world is no stranger to controversy, but things got serious at OpenAI’s San Francisco headquarters on Friday when the company went into lockdown mode following an alleged threat from an activist.

According to internal communications, an individual previously associated with the Stop AI activist group reportedly expressed interest in “causing physical harm to OpenAI employees”. San Francisco police received a 911 call just before 11 am about a potential threat near the company’s Mission Bay offices.

The incident highlights the growing tensions between AI development companies and activist groups concerned about the potential risks of advanced artificial intelligence. Stop AI and similar organizations have been staging protests outside tech companies, arguing that unchecked AI development could pose significant risks to humanity.

This isn’t the first time OpenAI has faced public confrontation. In February, protesters were arrested for locking the front doors of the Mission Bay office. Earlier this month, a StopAI member even attempted to subpoena OpenAI CEO Sam Altman during a public interview.

The individual at the center of Friday’s incident had previously been quoted expressing deep concerns about AI’s potential impact on human labor and scientific discovery. In a past press release, he stated that he would find “life not worth living” if AI technologies were to replace humans in critical domains.

OpenAI’s internal security team took measured precautions, advising employees to remove their badges when leaving the building and avoid wearing company-branded clothing. A high-ranking security team member later noted that while the situation was ongoing, there was “no indication of active threat activity” at the time.

The lockdown underscores the complex and sometimes volatile relationship between tech innovators and those who view their work with skepticism. As AI continues to advance rapidly, these confrontations are likely to become more frequent and intense.

While the specific details of the threat remain unclear, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the passionate debates surrounding artificial intelligence’s role in our future.