Sam Altman Targeted: The Molotov Attack and Pause AI

An Act Driven by the Fear of AI

Daniel Alejandro Moreno-Gama, 20 years old, was arrested after throwing a Molotov cocktail at Sam Altman's house in Russian Hill. This act, which occurred on April 10, 2026, appears to be motivated by his beliefs against the development of artificial intelligence, beliefs he shares with the group "Pause AI." This movement views advanced AI as a threat to humanity, an idea he has elaborated on in several articles published on Substack.

In one of his writings, "A Eulogy for Man," Moreno-Gama warns of a possible extinction of humanity due to AI. He compares this situation to historical events where advanced civilizations conquered less developed societies, often resulting in genocides.

Moreno-Gama was placed in custody at the San Francisco County Jail on Friday afternoon, April 10, 2026. The attack took place early in the morning, around 3:40 AM, and was captured by security cameras. The staff on site quickly extinguished the fire. After this incident, Moreno-Gama headed to the OpenAI headquarters in Mission Bay, threatening to set the building on fire. He was arrested by the police and faces multiple charges, including attempted murder and arson.

The Archetypes of the Warrior and the Martyr

Moreno-Gama identifies with the archetypes of the Warrior and the Martyr, figures ready to fight and die for their ideals. He encourages his readers to think of those who cannot defend themselves, concluding with a call for hope and struggle.

Sam Altman's Reaction

In response, Sam Altman published a blog post where he acknowledged past mistakes and compared the power struggles in the AI industry to a "Ring of Power." He emphasized the importance of democratizing technology to prevent it from being controlled by a small group of companies.

Altman admitted to underestimating the impact of words and narratives, and called for a reduction in incendiary rhetoric. He also acknowledged that the New Yorker article, which may have triggered the attack, was based on years of reporting and conversations with over 100 people, including himself.

He expressed that people's fear of AI is legitimate and that society may be undergoing the greatest change in its history. Altman admitted to mistakes, including his tendency to avoid conflict, which has caused much pain for him and OpenAI. He highlighted that OpenAI is now a major platform, not a startup, and must operate in a more predictable manner.

Call for Responsibility in the Industry

Altman urged the AI industry to adopt a more measured tone to avoid literal and figurative "explosions." This call comes as tensions between OpenAI, Anthropic, and the Pentagon escalate, particularly regarding the military use of AI.