The man arrested for throwing a Molotov cocktail at OpenAI chief Sam Altman’s San Francisco mega-mansion had a disdain for artificial intelligence and drew up a list naming other AI executives, court documents show.
On Friday, Daniel Moreno-Gama is accused of throwing the incendiary device at Altman’s multimillion-dollar home in the Russian Hill neighborhood around 4 a.m.
The weapon set an exterior gate on fire before Moreno-Gama allegedly fled on foot, according to the Associated Press. Less than an hour later, the suspect allegedly went to OpenAI’s headquarters and threatened to burn down the building.
Police arrested him later that day.
Upon his arrest, officers found a document pn him that “identified views opposed to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the executives of various AI companies,” court documents said.
On Monday morning, FBI agents searched Moreno-Gama’s home in Spring, Texas, near Houston, remaining there for several hours.
Moreno-Gama faces federal charges, including possession of an unregistered firearm and destruction of property using explosives.
Hours after the attack on his home, Altman shared a blog post addressing the threats, including a photo of his husband and their toddler.
“Normally we try to be pretty private, but in this case I am sharing a photo in the hopes that it might dissuade the next person from throwing a Molotov cocktail at our house, no matter what they think about me,” Altman wrote.
He also acknowledged public concerns about artificial intelligence, adding that “fear and anxiety about AI is justified,” but stressed the need to “de-escalate the rhetoric and tactics and try to have fewer explosions in fewer homes, figuratively and literally.”
Altman’s home was targeted again two days later, when a pair drove by the property and fired a gunshot from the vehicle.
Amanda Tom, 25, and Muhamad Tarik Hussein, 23, were arrested at the property. Cops confirmed the car belongs to Tom and three guns were seized.
