October 20, 2026
295 Lafayette Street, SoHo, Manhattan, New York

Protesters gathered outside OpenAI’s SoHo office for the NYC Citywide Walkout to Freeze AI, part of a nationwide day of action organized by Irreplaceable calling for a pause in further AI development until stronger public oversight and safety protections are in place.

Participants carried signs reading “Freeze AI Now,” “Stop the AI Race,” and “AI rots your brain,” while others raised concerns about data-center energy use, healthcare, labor rights and the influence of large technology companies.

Before and during the gathering, demonstrators prepared banners and artwork, listened to speakers and shared personal concerns about how rapidly developing AI could affect jobs, communities and everyday life. Organizers said the broader campaign was intended to give the public a greater voice in decisions surrounding the technology’s future.

The SoHo demonstration was one of several walkouts held across the country that day as students, workers and community members called for greater scrutiny of the pace and direction of artificial-intelligence development.