Sam Altman's attacker had a kill list of AI executives. Experts warn this is just the beginning

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was the target of two separate attacks on his San Francisco home within 72 hours, signaling a dangerous new phase in anti-AI activism. The first incident involved a 20-year-old man, Daniel Moreno-Gama, who allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at the residence. According to a federal complaint, Moreno-Gama intended to kill Altman and also attempted to set fire to OpenAI's nearby headquarters. He was arrested carrying a detailed manifesto outlining his anti-AI beliefs, which included a 'kill list' naming other AI industry executives. Authorities state his motivation was a belief that AI would cause human extinction.

Two days later, a second, seemingly unrelated attack occurred when a 25-year-old and a 23-year-old allegedly fired gunshots at Altman's home from a car before fleeing. While it's unclear if Altman was the specific target in the second incident, the back-to-back assaults represent the most visible and violent attacks on an AI executive to date. Experts warn these events are part of a broader, sometimes violent, wave of backlash not just against AI companies, but also against the physical infrastructure powering the technology, including data centers. The incidents highlight the growing personal security risks for leaders at the forefront of the rapidly advancing AI industry.