Man faces attempted murder charges in attack on home of OpenAI’s Sam Altman
Man faces attempted murder charges in attack on home of OpenAI’s Sam Altman
A 20-year-old Texan has been charged with hurling a Molotov cocktail at the residence of Sam Altman, the head of OpenAI in San Francisco. The individual, Daniel Moreno-Gama, is set to appear in court on Tuesday for multiple state-level accusations, including two counts of attempted homicide. Simultaneously, federal authorities have levied felony charges against him, alleging possession of an unregistered weapon and intent to sabotage property via explosive means.
The U.S. Justice Department claims Moreno-Gama was found with materials promoting opposition to artificial intelligence and urging actions against AI leaders and stakeholders. “Violence cannot be the norm for expressing disagreement, be it with politics or a technology or any other matter,” stated Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “These alleged actions – which damaged property and could well have taken lives – will be aggressively prosecuted.”
Details of the Attack
According to the criminal complaint, Moreno-Gama ignited an exterior gate at Altman’s home around 4:00 p.m. local time on Friday before escaping on foot. Later that same day, he was also accused of attempting to set fire to the San Francisco headquarters of OpenAI, where ChatGPT is developed. Security staff reported he tried to smash the building’s glass doors with a chair, as per the complaint.
Law enforcement recovered incendiary tools, a kerosene jug, and a lighter from the suspect. The documents he carried reportedly outlined concerns about AI’s threats to humanity, with a section labeled: “Some more words on the matter of our impending extinction.” These materials also included statements asserting, “if I am going to advocate for others to kill and commit crimes, then I must lead by example and show that I am fully sincere in my message,” along with contact details for AI executives and investors.
Reactions and Context
OpenAI emphasized in a statement that “to ensure society gets AI right, we need to work through the democratic process” and “we welcome a good faith debate.” However, it condemned violence, stating “there is no place in our democracy for violence against anyone, regardless of the AI lab they work at or side of the debate they belong to.”
No one was hurt during the incidents. San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins acknowledged this at a Monday press conference, praising the safety of Altman, his family, and employees. Earlier that day, the FBI executed a raid in Texas linked to the event, as noted by Director Kash Patel on X.
Hours after the home attack, Altman referenced a recent article in The New Yorker questioning his leadership in AI development. “We should de-escalate the rhetoric and tactics and try to have fewer explosions in fewer homes, figuratively and literally,” he remarked. Altman later clarified on X that he regretted associating the article with the alleged attack following public backlash.
The 2022 launch of ChatGPT sparked widespread enthusiasm for AI chatbots, triggering a surge of investment in the sector. This has led to growing skepticism among investors and observers. Subscribers can join the Tech Decoded newsletter to stay updated on global tech trends. Outside the UK? Sign up here.
