Man faces attempted murder charges in attack on home of OpenAI’s Sam Altman

Man faces attempted murder charges in attack on home of OpenAI’s Sam Altman

A 20-year-old Texan man has been charged with attempted murder following an assault on the residence of OpenAI’s Sam Altman in San Francisco. Daniel Moreno-Gama is set to appear before a judge on Tuesday afternoon for his arraignment, where he will be presented with multiple state-level accusations. Concurrently, federal prosecutors are pursuing felony charges against him, including illegal firearm possession and intentional destruction of property through explosive means.

The US Justice Department claims Moreno-Gama was found with materials promoting opposition to artificial intelligence and advocating for acts against AI executives and investors.

“Violence cannot be the norm for expressing disagreement, be it with politics or a technology or any other matter,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “These alleged actions – which damaged property and could well have taken lives – will be aggressively prosecuted.”

OpenAI stated in a public declaration that “to ensure society gets AI right, we need to work through the democratic process” and “we welcome a good faith debate,” while emphasizing that “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 yet revealed the identity of the attacker or the specific property targeted, but OpenAI confirmed to the BBC on Friday that the incident occurred at Altman’s home. The federal complaint details that Moreno-Gama set fire to an exterior gate around 4:00 PM local time, then fled the scene on foot. Approximately an hour later, he allegedly attempted to ignite the San Francisco headquarters of OpenAI, where ChatGPT is developed. Security personnel reported that he tried to use a chair to strike the glass doors of the building.

Investigators retrieved incendiary devices, a kerosene jug, and a lighter from Moreno-Gama. The documents he carried reportedly outlined AI’s potential risks to humanity, featuring a section titled: “Some more words on the matter of our impending extinction.” These materials also included a statement asserting, “If I am going to advocate for others to kill and commit crimes, then I must lead by example to show my sincerity,” along with names and addresses of board members, CEOs, and investors at various AI firms.

The complaint features surveillance footage capturing Moreno-Gama at both locations. No injuries were reported in the incidents. San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins noted that Altman, his family, and employees remained unharmed, ensuring their safety in the attacks. On Monday, the FBI executed a raid in Texas related to the incident, as shared on X by Director Kash Patel.

Earlier this week, a New Yorker investigative piece cast doubt on Altman’s credibility and suitability to lead a company developing controversial AI technology. Following the attack, Altman referenced the “incendiary article about me” and called for a reduction in aggressive rhetoric and tactics, aiming for fewer incidents both literally and metaphorically. After facing online backlash, Altman expressed regret on X for connecting the article with the alleged attack.

OpenAI’s 2022 release of ChatGPT sparked widespread consumer interest in AI chatbots, leading to a surge in financial investment across the industry. This has raised skepticism among investors and observers. Sign up for our Tech Decoded newsletter to follow the world’s top tech stories and trends. Outside the UK? Sign up here.