A 20-year-old Texas man carrying an anti-AI manifesto and a list of tech industry targets faces federal charges after allegedly firebombing OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's San Francisco mansion in what authorities describe as a targeted attack over artificial intelligence fears.
Daniel Moreno-Gama approached Altman's $27 million Russian Hill residence around 3:40 a.m. on Friday, April 11, with a lit Molotov cocktail before throwing it at an exterior gate, according to court documents.
Security guards extinguished the flames and no one was injured in the attack that occurred before dawn.
About 90 minutes later, Moreno-Gama showed up at OpenAI's Mission Bay headquarters where he allegedly struck glass doors with an outdoor chair and told security personnel he intended to burn down the building and kill anyone inside. Police recognized him from the earlier incident and immediately detained him outside the company's offices.
Authorities found incendiary devices, a kerosene jug, a blue lighter, and a three-part manifesto on Moreno-Gama that warned of AI's existential threat to humanity while listing names and addresses of other technology leaders. The document declared that Altman's life stood between "a normal future and a 'Terminator'-like scenario," according to prosecutors who said it encouraged others to continue his work by targeting additional individuals.
Moreno-Gama appeared in San Francisco Superior Court on Tuesday wearing an orange suit and agreed to postpone his arraignment until May 5. He faces state charges including attempted murder and attempted arson, plus federal counts of attempted property damage with explosives and possession of an unregistered firearm.
Superior Court Judge Kenneth White called the alleged crimes "extraordinarily bad" and referenced court documents indicating Moreno-Gama was "encouraging others" to act similarly. The judge ordered him to stay away from Altman and others on his target list if released from custody.
His parents issued a statement describing their son as suffering from "a recent mental health crisis." They said he had been working part-time at a restaurant and attending community college until recently, adding "he has never harmed anyone."
Defense attorneys described Moreno-Gama as "a young man with a history of autism and mental health illness" whose actions appeared driven by acute psychological distress.
Prosecutors pushed back against claims that mental health issues explained the attack. District Attorney Brooke Jenkins noted security camera footage captured Moreno-Gama preparing to throw the firebomb, while evidence showed he traveled to California, booked hotel rooms, and assembled weapons for what she called "a clear understanding of his mission."
"Early this morning, someone threw a Molotov cocktail at Sam Altman's home and also made threats at our San Francisco headquarters."
OpenAI confirmed the incident in a statement. The company expressed appreciation for police response speed and said it was assisting law enforcement with their investigation.
The attack marks at least the second security threat against OpenAI facilities in recent years. Last year, the company locked down its San Francisco office after reporting threats from someone once affiliated with an anti-AI activist group.
