The FBI raided the Spring, Texas home of Daniel Alejandro Moreno-Gama on Monday, as first reported by Fox News. The investigation was connected to an arson attack Friday morning at the North Beach home of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
Investigators say the 20-year-old allegedly traveled from Texas to San Francisco to carry out the attack and was carrying a “manifesto” including a list of other AI executives and investors, including their names and addresses, according to Fox.
Officers responded to the residence around 4:12 a.m. on Friday, according to a statement released by the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD).
“At the scene, officers learned that an unknown male subject threw an incendiary device at a home, causing a fire to an exterior gate,” SFPD wrote. “The suspect then fled on foot. There were no injuries reported as a result of this incident.”
About an hour later, the suspect was taken into custody after making threats to burn down a building in the 1400 block of 3rd Street—the location of OpenAI’s headquarters.
Moreno-Gama has been charged with attempted murder, arson of an inhabited structure or property, two counts of possessing or manufacturing combustible material or an incendiary device, two counts of possessing a destructive device, explosion of a destructive device with the intent to injure and criminal threats, according to the San Francisco Sheriff’s Office.
The incident is reportedly the second attack on Altman’s residence in the past few days, according to the New York Post. Two arrests were made Sunday morning after shots were fired outside the North Beach residence from the passenger side of a vehicle.
“There was an incendiary article about me a few days ago,” Altman wrote. “I have underestimated the power of words and narratives.”
Altman acknowledged both the promise and risks of AI and said its power should be broadly shared rather than concentrated. He said fears about AI are justified, even adding that he sympathizes with anti-technology sentiments.
The OpenAI CEO said he welcomes debate about the technology and its capabilities, but he called for de-escalation.
“While we have that debate, we should de-escalate the rhetoric and tactics and try to have fewer explosions in fewer homes, figuratively and literally,” Altman said.