A 20-year-old Texas man has been charged with hurling a molotov cocktail at Sam Altman's San Francisco home and attempting to torch OpenAI's headquarters in what federal prosecutors are treating as potential domestic terrorism.
Daniel Moreno-Gama was arrested after surveillance footage captured him throwing an incendiary device outside the OpenAI chief executive's residence. Police discovered multiple firebombs, kerosene, and a lighter during his arrest, along with an unregistered firearm.
The suspect traveled from Texas to California to carry out the attacks. At OpenAI's office, he told security staff he planned to burn down the building and harm people inside, according to court documents.
Investigators found a handwritten anti-AI manifesto on Moreno-Gama that included threats against Altman. Federal prosecutors say the document provides evidence of motive and are weighing whether the attacks constitute domestic terrorism.
"If the evidence shows that Mr Moreno-Gama executed these attacks to change public policy or to coerce government and other officials, we will treat this as an act of domestic terrorism and together with our law enforcement partners prosecute him to the fullest extent allowed by law," US attorney Craig Missakian said in a statement Monday.
Moreno-Gama faces federal charges of attempted damage and destruction of property by explosives and possession of an unregistered firearm. Conviction on the explosives charge carries a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, with a maximum sentence of 20 years. The firearm charge carries up to 10 years.
The incident highlights intensifying pressure on OpenAI over national security concerns. The company has faced criticism for a proposed military partnership with the U.S. government that would allow classified military operations to use its artificial intelligence technology.
Author James Rodriguez: "This attack shows the real risks of AI backlash turning violent, and the feds are right to treat it seriously as potential terrorism."
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