OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Targeted in Molotov Attack at San Francisco Home

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s San Francisco home was attacked early Friday by a 20-year-old man who allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail. The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) arrested Daniel Moreno-Gama soon after the incident. Prosecutors now claim Moreno-Gama intended to kill Altman, motivated by fears that artificial intelligence could cause human extinction.

Key Highlights

• OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s home was attacked with a Molotov cocktail by a 20-year-old man
• Suspect Daniel Moreno-Gama traveled from Texas and was arrested by San Francisco police
• Authorities found documents outlining plans and anti-AI views during the arrest
• Two days later, two suspects allegedly fired shots at Altman’s residence
• No injuries were reported in either incident and federal charges have been filed

Details of the Attack

According to a federal criminal complaint filed Monday, Moreno-Gama traveled from Texas to California with the stated goal of killing Altman. At around 3:37 am, he threw a lit incendiary device at Altman's residence, causing a fire at the driveway gate. No injuries were reported. After the attack, Moreno-Gama proceeded to OpenAI’s headquarters. There, he broke the glass doors with a chair and threatened to burn down the building and harm those inside. Police arrested him at the scene.

Authorities found a document on Moreno-Gama outlining his intentions. The complaint, filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, describes the document as a "three-part series." One section, titled "Your Last Warning," claimed he had "killed /attempted to kill" the chief executive of an AI research company, identified in the filing as "Victim-1." This likely refers to Altman. The document also listed names and addresses of several AI executives, board members, and investors. Another section, "Some more words on the matter of our impending extinction," detailed Moreno-Gama's views on the risks posed by AI. The document ended with a letter to Altman, stating that if Altman survived, it would be a sign for him to "redeem" himself.

Subsequent Incidents and Investigation

Two days after the Molotov attack, two individuals allegedly fired shots at Altman’s residence. The SFPD has both suspects in custody. No injuries were reported in either incident. During Moreno-Gama's arrest, authorities recovered incendiary devices, a jug of kerosene, a blue lighter, and the anti-AI document. Moreno-Gama reportedly emailed the document to peers at his former college.

Moreno-Gama faces federal charges, including attempted damage and destruction of property by explosives and possession of an unregistered firearm. FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Cobo described the attack as "planned, targeted and extremely serious." FBI Director Kash Patel stated on X that the bureau conducted a related operation in Texas.

After the incident, Altman shared a blog post with a photo of his husband and son, urging that his family not be targeted. He acknowledged that public fear about AI is justified.