Man faces attempted murder charges in attack on home of OpenAI’s Sam Altman
Attempted Murder Charges Against Texas Man Linked to Sam Altman’s Home Attack
On Tuesday afternoon, Daniel Moreno-Gama, a 20-year-old from Texas, will face state charges related to an incident where he allegedly hurled a Molotov cocktail at the residence of Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, in San Francisco. The attack, which occurred on Friday, has led to two counts of attempted murder. Simultaneously, federal prosecutors are charging him with possession of an unregistered firearm and attempted destruction of property via explosives.
Documents and Alleged Intent
The U.S. Department of Justice claims Moreno-Gama was found with materials promoting AI skepticism and advocating for criminal actions against executives and investors in the field. “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.”
“To ensure society gets AI right, we need to work through the democratic process,” said OpenAI in a statement. “We welcome a good faith debate, but 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.”
Authorities have not disclosed the specific identity of the individual or the home targeted in the attack. However, a spokesperson for OpenAI confirmed to the BBC that the incident occurred at Altman’s residence. The criminal complaint details that Moreno-Gama set fire to an external gate at the home around 4:00 PM local time before fleeing on foot. Later that day, he allegedly attempted to ignite the San Francisco headquarters of OpenAI, where ChatGPT is developed, about an hour later.
Weapons and Evidence
Security personnel reported that Moreno-Gama tried to use a chair to break the glass doors of the OpenAI building. The Justice Department also noted that officers recovered incendiary devices, a kerosene jug, and a lighter from him. His documents, which included a section titled “Some more words on the matter of our impending extinction,” further alleged that “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.” The materials also listed names and addresses of key figures at various AI companies.
Criminal complaint images from surveillance cameras depict Moreno-Gama at both locations. No injuries were reported in the incidents. “I’m grateful that Mr. Altman, his family, and his employees were uninjured in these attacks and are safe,” said San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins during a Monday press conference.
Broader Context and Response
Earlier Monday, the FBI conducted a Texas raid tied to the event, as shared on X by Director Kash Patel. The incident follows a recent investigative piece in The New Yorker that questioned Altman’s leadership and credibility in the AI sector. After the home attack, Altman referenced the “incendiary article about me” and urged for reduced “explosions” in homes, both literal and metaphorical. He later clarified on X that he regretted associating the article with the alleged attack after facing social media backlash.
OpenAI’s 2022 launch of ChatGPT sparked widespread public fascination with AI chatbots. Since then, the industry has attracted massive financial backing, raising concerns among investors and analysts. Readers outside the UK can sign up for the Tech Decoded newsletter to stay updated on global tech developments.