Police in San Francisco have arrested a 20-year-old man following a Molotov cocktail attack on the residence of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday in the North Beach neighborhood, where a perimeter gate was set ablaze.
While authorities did not publicly identify the property, an OpenAI spokesperson confirmed the target was Altman's home. The same individual also made threats at the company's San Francisco headquarters later that morning.
"Thankfully, no one was hurt," the spokesperson stated. "We deeply appreciate how quickly SFPD responded and the support from the city in helping keep our employees safe."
According to police reports, the suspect fled Altman's residence before officers arrived. Approximately an hour later, he appeared outside an OpenAI office building, threatening to "burn down the building," leading to his arrest.
An SFPD officer declined to comment on the suspect's current status or potential charges, noting the investigation remains active.
Altman, a billionaire tech executive whose company launched the groundbreaking ChatGPT in late 2022, maintains his primary residence in San Francisco where OpenAI was founded. The attack comes as OpenAI has been advocating for government policies to address AI's potential societal impacts, including worker displacement and corporate taxation.
"We deeply appreciate how quickly SFPD responded and the support from the city in helping keep our employees safe," said an OpenAI spokesperson.
The incident highlights growing tensions surrounding artificial intelligence development, though authorities have not disclosed a specific motive for the attack.