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The October 16 session will give lawmakers a chance to question the company as they weigh local AI protections. The subpoena allows a representative to appear instead of Elon Musk.
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SpaceX has committed to testify before the New York City Council’s technology committee after lawmakers threatened to ask a judge to enforce a subpoena it missed. The October 16 session will help the council assess whether AI-related risks warrant city action; lawmakers want context on privacy, safeguards and whistleblower protections. The inquiry also puts a local policy spotlight on Grok, which is used by some federal agencies, including the Pentagon.
The September 28 subpoena called for Elon Musk or another SpaceX representative to appear at an October 5 hearing; it did not require Musk personally.
The council said possible penalties could follow noncompliance, but no penalties have been imposed.
Anthropic, OpenAI, Google and Meta representatives testified at the October 5 session.
New York City lawmakers are set to question SpaceX about AI safety on October 16 at 10 a.m. ET. The council announced October 13 that the company agreed to appear before its technology committee after a threat to seek court enforcement of its subpoena, according to CNBC.
Council Speaker Julie Menin and General Counsel Nwamaka Ejebe issued the subpoena on September 28 to Elon Musk and SpaceX’s AI unit. It ordered Musk or another company representative to testify at the October 5 hearing—not necessarily a personal appearance by Musk.
SpaceX did not appear. Representatives from Anthropic, OpenAI, Google and Meta all testified at that session. Menin called SpaceXAI’s absence from the hours-long hearing unacceptable and said the company agreed two days later, once the council stated its intention to ask a judge to enforce the order.
The council’s original letter also warned that failure to comply could expose SpaceX to penalties or other punishment under city laws and regulations. That was a warning about possible consequences, not an announcement of imposed penalties.
Musk folded his AI venture, xAI, into SpaceX in February. The combined business includes the Grok models, which are used by some federal agencies, including the Pentagon. That federal use is the context for De La Rosa’s demand for answers.
The investigation has a legislative purpose. In its original letter ordering testimony, the council said it wanted to assess whether emerging AI risks warrant immediate action to protect New Yorkers. Its concerns cover public safety, cybersecurity, economic stability, privacy, consumers and businesses.
SpaceX did not respond to CNBC’s request for comment.
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