Daniel Moreno-Gama, a 20-year-old from Texas, has been charged with attempted murder and arson after an attack on OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s residence. The incident occurred on Friday night when Moreno-Gama allegedly threw an incendiary device at Altman’s home. He also assaulted the glass doors of OpenAI’s San Francisco headquarters with a chair, shouting intentions to “burn it down and kill anyone inside.”
Details of the Incident
The FBI outlined that the attack was both planned and targeted. According to Matt Cobo, acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s San Francisco field office, the situation posed an extreme danger to Altman and others at the scene. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Criminal Charges
- Attempted murder of Sam Altman and a security guard
- Attempted arson
- Possession of an unregistered firearm
- Attempted damage and destruction of property through explosives
Additional potential charges could arise related to domestic terrorism. U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California, Craig Missakian, emphasized that if evidence indicates the motive was to change public policy through coercion, they would prosecute Moreno-Gama as a domestic terrorist.
Evidence Collected
Authorities recovered several incendiary devices, a jug of kerosene, and a lighter from Moreno-Gama. Furthermore, a document opposing artificial intelligence (AI) was found in his possession. The document reportedly contained threats against Altman, as well as personal information of executives from various AI companies.
Reaction and Response
Sam Altman responded to the frightening event in a personal blog post, expressing hope that sharing his experiences could prevent future attacks. He stated the need for healthy discourse on AI, emphasizing the importance of democracy and discarding violence in discussions about technology.
OpenAI released a statement thanking law enforcement for their rapid response and reiterating that violence has no place in their democratic engagement over AI.
Next Steps in Legal Proceedings
Moreno-Gama is scheduled for arraignment on Tuesday afternoon. The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office intends to request he be held without bail until the trial.
This case highlights serious concerns around safety related to public figures in the technology sector and the escalating tensions surrounding discussions about artificial intelligence.
