SpaceX AI Testifies at New York City AI Safety Hearing After Subpoena

Oct 16, 2026
SpaceX AI testified before the New York City Council after the council issued its first recorded subpoena against a private actor. Lawmakers questioned the company about Grok safeguards, staffing for AI safety and whistleblower protections.

SpaceX AI testified before the New York City Council after receiving the council's first recorded subpoena against a private actor, the council said in a press release. The subpoena followed the company's absence from an earlier hearing attended by Anthropic, Google, Meta and OpenAI.

Council Speaker Julie Menin said she generated a sexualized image of herself with Grok within seconds. SpaceX AI representative Gabriela Castillo Madrid could not explain how the image bypassed the chatbot's stated controls and said the safety team could examine the case.

Former SpaceX AI employee Devin Kim testified that three of the company's 200 technical employees worked on AI safety training during his employment. Kim alleges the company fired him after he raised safety concerns about Grok. Castillo Madrid testified that she was not aware of his termination or allegations.

The council is considering Intro 504, which would prohibit unauthorized AI generated depictions of elected officials. It also introduced Intro 2605, which would allow whistleblowers to receive part of fines or penalties recovered from AI companies that violate the law.

We hope you enjoyed this article

Consider subscribing to one of our newsletters like AI Policy Brief or Daily AI Brief.

Also, consider following us on social media:

AI Safety & Regulation AI Brief AI Brief (X)
Free newsletter

AI Policy Brief

Weekly report on AI regulations, safety standards, government policies, and compliance requirements worldwide.

AI Token Webinar

Market report

2025 Generative AI in Professional Services Report

Thomson Reuters

This report by Thomson Reuters explores the integration and impact of generative AI technologies, such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, within the professional services sector. It highlights the growing adoption of GenAI tools across industries like legal, tax, accounting, and government, and discusses the challenges and opportunities these technologies present. The report also examines professionals' perceptions of GenAI and the need for strategic integration to maximize its value.

Read more

You may also like

Free, six days a week

Daily AI Brief: the AI news that matters, in your inbox.