A 20-year-old suspect is in custody following an early-morning attack involving a Molotov cocktail at the San Francisco residence of OpenAI CEO and co-founder Sam Altman.
In a statement, the San Francisco Police Department said the incident occurred shortly after 4 a.m. when the unnamed individual allegedly threw an incendiary destructive device at Altman’s North Beach property.
As a result, a small fire ignited near an exterior gate and emergency responders were called to the scene. The fire was quickly contained and no injuries were reported.
Authorities say the male suspect immediately fled the scene on foot following the attack, prompting a citywide alert with his description.
About an hour later, officers responded to calls of an individual threatening to burn down a building and recognized the same suspect linked to the prior incident.
He was immediately detained but has not yet been publicly identified. Officials note charges are currently pending, as an investigation remains “open and active” at this time.
A spokesperson with OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, confirmed subsequent threats were also made against the company’s headquarters, adding that no employees or nearby residences were harmed.
“We deeply appreciate how quickly SFPD responded and the support from the city in helping keep our employees safe,” OpenAI wrote in a the statement. “The individual is in custody, and we’re assisting law enforcement with their investigation.”
A motive for the incident remains unknown. The Epoch Times has reached out to the SFPD and OpenAI for further comment on the matter. In an email, the SFPD reiterated the ongoing investigation, while OpenAI did not respond by the time of publication.
The incident comes amid heightened scrutiny regarding artificial intelligence (AI) companies and concern surrounding the future of the technology. On April 6, the New Yorker published an in-depth article on Altman and the risks of advanced AI and how it could shape the future of humanity.
In November 2023, Altman was fired by OpenAI, which stated he was “not consistently candid in his communications with the board,” which “hindered its ability to exercise its responsibilities” and ultimately resulted in lost confidence in his ability as a leader. Days later, however, he was reinstated as CEO for the tech giant, but under a different board of directors.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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