Man arrested after attacking OpenAI CEO’s home with Molotov cocktail

Police in San Francisco have arrested a 20-year-old man after a Molotov cocktail was thrown at the home of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, setting a perimeter gate on fire.

Officers responded to a call in the North Beach neighbourhood in the early hours of April 10, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

While the San Francisco Police Department did not identify the suspect or confirm the address, a spokesperson for OpenAI said the incident took place at Altman’s home.

A company spokeswoman said the suspect had “also made threats at our San Francisco headquarters”.

"Thankfully, no one was hurt," the spokeswoman said. "We deeply appreciate how quickly SFPD responded and the support from the city in helping keep our employees safe."

Police said the suspect fled the scene initially but later returned to an OpenAI office about an hour later, where he allegedly threatened to “burn down the building” before being arrested.

Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing and did not confirm whether charges had been filed.

Sam Altman, a billionaire and prominent figure in the artificial intelligence industry, is best known as the CEO of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, which has driven rapid global investment in AI technologies since its launch in 2022.

By Sabina Mammadli