San Francisco, CA — In a bold protest against what he calls the “reckless race toward artificial general intelligence (AGI),” activist Guido Reichstadter has entered the third day of a hunger strike outside the headquarters of leading AI company Anthropic.
Reichstadter, a longtime organizer and father of two, is calling attention to the growing risks posed by powerful AI systems, urging Anthropic and other tech giants to halt their development of AGI technologies. Holding signs and posting regular updates to social media, the activist says his strike is a response to the “real and immediate harms” caused by AI today — as well as the existential threats posed by future systems.
“We are in an emergency,” Reichstadter declared in an open letter. “This AI race must stop now — it is the responsibility of all of us to act.”
Who Is Guido Reichstadter?
Known for his past activism, including a sit-in protest on the Frederick Douglass Bridge in Washington, D.C., Reichstadter is no stranger to taking dramatic action. He’s now channeling that same energy toward the AI industry, specifically targeting Anthropic, one of the most prominent companies pursuing advanced AI development.
He is affiliated with StopAI, a grassroots group campaigning to slow or stop AI progress until stronger regulations and ethical safeguards are in place.
The AGI Debate: Hype or Harm?
Artificial general intelligence (AGI) refers to hypothetical AI systems capable of performing any intellectual task a human can. While some experts argue AGI is still decades away, others — including executives at Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google DeepMind — are investing heavily in its pursuit.
Critics like Reichstadter believe this “race to AGI” is driven more by profit and investor hype than public interest. They point to the potential for job displacement, misinformation, military misuse, and loss of human autonomy as urgent concerns.
Growing Anti-AI Movements
Reichstadter isn’t alone in sounding the alarm. Activist networks like StopGenAI and databases like the AI Incident Database have emerged to track and challenge AI’s societal impacts. These groups argue that generative AI systems — like those used to create art, text, and code — are already harming creative industries, privacy rights, and trust in digital content.
Cybersecurity expert Kim Crawley, founder of StopGenAI, warns that powerful AI tools are being used to eliminate human labor and consolidate power among tech elites. “We already had the technology to improve lives globally,” she said in a recent interview. “Now they want to cut humans out of the loop entirely.”
A Call for Corporate Responsibility
Reichstadter is directing his protest at Anthropic’s leadership, calling on executives and employees alike to reassess the ethical implications of their work. While the hunger strike has not yet drawn mass public attention, it symbolizes a growing sentiment among citizens, researchers, and policy makers who want AI development slowed — or at least better governed.
What’s Next?
As his hunger strike continues, Reichstadter has called on others to join him in demanding transparency, accountability, and responsibility from AI companies. Whether this protest sparks broader resistance remains to be seen, but it marks a pivotal moment in the public’s relationship with artificial intelligence.
