Texas man charged after bomb attack at Sam Altman’s home, anti-AI writings seized

A fire broke out at the gate of Sam Altman’s San Francisco home after a 20-year-old Texas man allegedly threw a homemade incendiary device at the property, then left behind a trail of anti-A.I. writings that prosecutors say helped explain the attack.

Court records identify the suspect as Daniel Moreno-Gama. Authorities said the April 10 incident was captured on surveillance video, and that the device set an exterior gate on fire but did not injure anyone. About an hour later, Moreno-Gama was arrested outside OpenAI’s headquarters in San Francisco after allegedly threatening to burn down the building. Police said he had kerosene in his backpack when he was taken into custody.

Federal prosecutors charged Moreno-Gama with attempted damage and destruction of property by means of explosives and possession of an unregistered firearm. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 20 years on the explosives charge, plus up to 10 years on the firearm count. Authorities said they recovered multiple incendiary devices, kerosene and a lighter at the time of his arrest.

Investigators also recovered a self-authored anti-A.I. document that allegedly contained threats directed at Altman and a list of names and addresses of apparent board members, chief executives of A.I. companies and investors. Prosecutors said the case could be treated as domestic terrorism if evidence shows Moreno-Gama carried out the attacks to change public policy or coerce officials. The writings underscore how fear and rage around artificial intelligence are increasingly spilling out of online debate and into physical threats, with executives, employees and surrounding neighborhoods caught in the middle.

OpenAI said no one was hurt and thanked San Francisco police for responding quickly. Altman later posted a photo of his husband and son on his own website and said he shared it in hopes of deterring future attacks on his home.

The case has intensified concern over security for prominent A.I. leaders, especially as OpenAI faces scrutiny over a proposed agreement with the U.S. government that would allow its technology to be used in classified military operations. Authorities were also investigating a separate shooting incident near Altman’s San Francisco home, adding to the sense of volatility around one of the industry’s most visible figures.