A suspect threw a Molotov cocktail at OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's home in San Francisco early Friday. The suspect was arrested after the incident, and no injuries were reported from the attack. The suspect also made threats at OpenAI's headquarters in San Francisco.
After the attack, the suspect fled on foot. The suspect was located near OpenAI's headquarters about an hour later. Police recognized the suspect from the incident at Altman's mansion and took him into custody, according to multiple reports.
The suspect is a 20-year-old male. An OpenAI spokesperson confirmed the incident at Altman's residence. OpenAI expressed appreciation for the quick SFPD response and support in keeping employees safe.
Thankfully, no one was hurt. We deeply appreciate how quickly SFPD responded and the support from the city in helping keep our employees safe.
OpenAI stated the individual is in custody and they are assisting law enforcement with the investigation. OpenAI said it would increase police presence around its offices following the firebomb incident, according to the company. OpenAI leadership sent a message to staff about the incident, multiple reports indicate.
Charges were still pending as of Friday morning, and the attack remained under investigation, according to multiple reports. A San Francisco Police Department spokesperson said there were no further updates to provide about the incident as of Friday at 4:20pm ET. Police have not indicated a possible motive behind the attack, according to research from two sources.
It was not immediately clear whether Altman was at home when this happened, multiple reports indicate. Authorities did not publicly identify the suspect or confirm the address where the attack took place, research from two sources shows. Altman has not yet commented on the Molotov cocktail attack, according to multiple reports.
The incident comes amid heightened security concerns around OpenAI’s offices, which have faced threats and protests in recent months, according to research from two sources. Just last November, a man making violent threats to its San Francisco headquarters briefly prompted an office lockdown, research from two sources indicates. Implications of the attack extend beyond the immediate physical threat, raising questions about the safety of tech executives in an era of polarized opinions on technology.