Google, OpenAI and Anthropic will testify at a New York City Council hearing on artificial intelligence today, October 5. The hearing will discuss the dangers of the fast-moving technology.

The companies agreed to attend only after lawmakers threatened to use subpoena power. Council Speaker Julie Menin first sent letters asking them to appear. Only Meta responded at first.

Menin then sent a follow-up letter with an explicit subpoena threat. Google, OpenAI and Anthropic changed their tune after that, Menin said.

Elon Musk’s SpaceXAI ignored the invitation. The council issued a legal order forcing it to attend.

The hearing is the first time major AI firms must publicly explain their safety steps. Proposals on the table include AI “kill switches” and rewards for whistleblowers.

Reports citing tens of thousands of AI safety incidents surfaced in recent days. Former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon, who quit in September with stark warnings about AI risks, will also testify at Menin’s request, Bloomberg reported.