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A man was arrested early Friday after allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail at the home of Sam Altman in San Francisco.
Officers responded around 3:43 AM to reports of an incendiary device thrown at a residence near Chestnut and Jones streets in the city’s Russian Hill neighborhood, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Authorities have not publicly identified the homeowner, but OpenAI confirmed the property belongs to Altman. OpenAI confirmed the suspect is in custody and said the company is assisting with the investigation.
“Early this morning, someone threw a Molotov cocktail at Sam Altman’s home and also made threats at our San Francisco headquarters,” an OpenAI spokesperson told the New York Post.
“Thankfully, no one was hurt. We deeply appreciate how quickly SFPD responded and the support from the city in helping keep our employees safe. The individual is in custody, and we’re assisting law enforcement with their investigation.”
Suspect arrested after early morning incident
The property, located at 950 Lombard Street, sits on a hillside near the well-known curves of Lombard Street. Altman purchased the estate in March 2020 for $27 million, according to the San Francisco Standard.
The compound includes two residences and a modern addition built during a redevelopment project. Features include an infinity pool overlooking the city, a separate wellness cottage and a garage accessed through a tunnel-style entrance.
OpenAI
Lee Edwards, a venture capitalist and general partner at Root Ventures, said to The Post that the incident could be tied to broader concerns about artificial intelligence.
“There is a lot of press out there, and political movements, sometimes amplified by mainstream politicians, that frame AI technology as apocalyptic and an existential threat to humanity,” Edwards said.
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“I think people should be aware of the consequences of that kind of hyperbole, especially when we’ve seen this kind of thing happen before.”
