Authorities were called to address two distinct incidents near the residence of Sam Altman in San Francisco. On Friday, there was an alleged Molotov cocktail incident, followed by reports of gunfire on Sunday.
SAN FRANCISCO — Just days following the alleged Molotov cocktail attack targeting the home of OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, law enforcement detained two individuals accused of discharging a firearm in the vicinity.
According to the San Francisco Standard, the gunfire was reported at approximately 1:40 a.m. within Altman’s neighborhood.
The San Francisco Police Department stated that a vehicle was observed driving past “a residence” around the incident’s timeframe, which led to the apprehension of two suspects. They have been charged with the negligent discharge of a firearm and are currently held in the San Francisco County Jail, as per the police’s official statement.
Fortunately, the shooting resulted in no injuries, and the presence of any occupants at the time remains uncertain. Whether the residence was intentionally targeted remains ambiguous, with investigations ongoing and authorities yet to reveal any motives.
This gunfire episode followed the arrest of a 20-year-old suspect, accused of hurling a Molotov cocktail at Altman’s home just two days earlier.
OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, released a statement confirming that the home belongs to Altman and that the threats were made at its headquarters. No one was hurt, the company said, and OpenAI is assisting in the investigation.
Authorities haven’t charged or released details about the man they arrested, including his name or a possible motive.
The first attack prompted Altman to write a blog post alongside a photo of his son and husband, hoping to “dissuade the next person from throwing a Molotov cocktail at our house, no matter what they think about me.”
Altman, the co-founder and CEO, has become a preeminent voice in Silicon Valley on the promise and potential dangers of artificial intelligence. He was fired by OpenAI in 2023 after a review found he was “not consistently candid in his communications” with the board of directors, but he was rehired just days later. He returned as CEO under a different board of directors.
Altman is a controversial figure, and the attacks came days after the New Yorker published an in-depth investigation that touched on concerns some people have about him and the company.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
