Californian pulls AI ballot measures, citing OpenAI intimidation
SAN FRANCISCO — The mysterious Californian behind two ballot measures to regulate artificial intelligence in the state said he was intimidated into scrapping them after OpenAI asked regulators to probe his identity.
The initiatives were East Bay resident Alexander Oldham’s first foray into the world of state ballot battles, where propositions can take off seemingly overnight, attracting big bucks and intense opposition.
Oldham said he sent in the papers to withdraw them on Tuesday “due to threats and intimidation from primarily OpenAI.”
“I was naive,” he told POLITICO in a rare interview. “I don’t want any more negative consequences because I was stupid enough to think that I could just put an idea out for people to look at in today’s world.”
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/27/californian-pulls-ai-ballot-measures-citing-openai-intimidation-00803117
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