Man Charged After Alleged Molotov Attack on OpenAI Chief Sam Altman’s Home

Mintesinot Nigussie

Daniel Moreno-Gama, a Texas man, has been charged following an alleged Molotov cocktail attack at the San Francisco home of OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman. Federal prosecutors allege Moreno-Gama travelled from Texas to California and was later identified on surveillance footage outside Altman’s residence.

At around 4 a.m. on Friday, he allegedly threw an incendiary destructive device at the property, causing a fire on an exterior gate. No injuries were reported. He was arrested about an hour later outside OpenAI’s headquarters in San Francisco, where police allege he made threats to burn down the building.

Officers said he was found carrying kerosene in his backpack and was seen attempting to strike the building’s glass with a chair. Prosecutors said investigators recovered a document in which Moreno-Gama allegedly expressed sentiments hostile toward artificial intelligence executives.

In a separate incident, San Francisco police said two people were arrested after allegedly firing shots at Altman’s home on Sunday morning. The attacks have raised concerns about security for high-profile technology executives.

Businesses and individuals in the AI sector are closely watching the case, as it highlights growing tensions and potential threats linked to the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence technologies.

Overall, the charging of Daniel Moreno-Gama marks the latest development in a series of security incidents targeting OpenAI’s leadership, underscoring the challenges of protecting prominent figures in the tech industry.