The attack began at 3:45 a.m. on April 10, when 20-year-old Daniel Moreno-Gama approached the gate of Sam Altman’s Russian Hill home in San Francisco, lit a Molotov cocktail, and hurled it at the building. The firebomb bounced off the structure, causing minor damage but no injuries. Within hours, Moreno-Gama had traveled approximately three miles to OpenAI’s headquarters, where he allegedly attempted to smash the entrance doors with a chair while reportedly stating he planned to burn the building down and kill anyone inside.
Federal and California state authorities charged Moreno-Gama with attempted arson, attempted murder, and other crimes. He faces up to life in prison if convicted. His parents issued a statement revealing their son had recently suffered a mental health crisis, while his public defender described the incident as a property crime stemming from mental illness rather than premeditated violence.
The incident represents the most prominent physical attack on an AI executive to date, occurring against a backdrop of intensifying anti-AI sentiment. Moreno-Gama’s online presence included posts under the username “Butlerian Jihadist” — a reference to the Dune series — and membership in PauseAI, an organization advocating for halting AI development. Federal authorities are investigating whether to classify the attack as domestic terrorism.
OpenAI’s global policy chief, Chris Lehane, acknowledged the severity of the situation in interviews, warning that irresponsible rhetoric around AI can have real-world consequences. The attack has prompted reflection within the AI industry about the language used in public debates concerning artificial intelligence’s risks and the responsibility that comes with advancing such powerful technology.
Two days after the initial incident, police arrested two additional individuals in connection with a apparent drive-by shooting outside Altman’s home, though they were later released without charges. Altman himself shared a photo of his family, including his infant daughter, urging de-escalation and expressing hope that such imagery might dissuade future attackers.