Federal prosecutors charged a Texas man after authorities say surveillance video captured him hurling a Molotov cocktail at the San Francisco home of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and that he later attempted to set fire to the artificial intelligence company's headquarters.
According to an affidavit filed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in federal court on Monday, 20-year-old Daniel Moreno-Gama was recorded throwing an incendiary device outside Altman’s residence. Law enforcement officials said he was carrying a self-authored "anti-AI" document at the time San Francisco police took him into custody. The FBI cited that document as evidence of motive and said it contained threats directed at Altman.
At the time of Moreno-Gama’s arrest, police reported they recovered multiple incendiary devices along with kerosene and a lighter. Court records further state that Moreno-Gama told security personnel at OpenAI’s headquarters that he planned to burn the building and intended to harm people inside.
Prosecutors charged Moreno-Gama with attempted damage and destruction of property by means of explosives and possession of an unregistered firearm. Court filings indicate the explosives charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison, while the unregistered firearm charge carries up to 10 years.
U.S. Attorney Craig Missakian, quoted in the filings, said investigators are only at the beginning of the probe and warned: "if the evidence shows that Mr. Moreno-Gama executed these attacks to change public policy or to coerce government and other officials, we will treat this as an act of domestic terrorism and together with our law enforcement partners prosecute him to the fullest extent allowed by law."
The FBI’s account says Moreno-Gama traveled from Texas to California before carrying out the attacks. The filing ties the recovered physical evidence and the self-authored document to authorities’ assessment of his motive.
The affidavit and charges come amid heightened attention on OpenAI’s role in national security conversations, including public debate noted in the filings about a proposed arrangement to permit its artificial intelligence technology to be used in classified military operations. The documents filed in court do not alter the presumption of innocence for the accused and reflect only the government’s allegations as the investigation continues.
As the case progresses, court filings will determine whether prosecutors pursue domestic terrorism enhancements. For now, the charges and seized materials form the basis for federal prosecution while investigators continue to develop the case.