Daniel Moreno-Gama, 20, was captured on surveillance footage throwing an incendiary device at Altman’s home in San Francisco, based on a Federal Bureau of Investigation affidavit submitted to federal court on Monday, April 13.
Authorities reported that Moreno-Gama was in possession of a self-written “anti-AI” document when arrested by the San Francisco Police Department.
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The FBI indicated that the document authored by Moreno-Gama, considered evidence of his motive, included threats aimed at Altman.
”We are only at the beginning of this investigation, but if the evidence suggests that Mr. Moreno-Gama carried out these attacks to influence public policy or to coerce government and other officials, we will classify this as an act of domestic terrorism and work with our law enforcement partners to prosecute him to the fullest extent permissible by law,” U.S. Attorney Craig Missakian stated.
OpenAI is facing increasing scrutiny concerning its involvement in national security, particularly criticism over a proposed agreement with the U.S. government that would permit the utilization of its artificial intelligence technology in classified military operations.
Moreno-Gama is charged with attempted damage and destruction of property using explosives, as well as possession of an unregistered firearm.
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Police noted that he traveled from Texas to California prior to executing the attacks, and during his arrest, they recovered numerous incendiary devices, kerosene, and a lighter.
According to court documents, Moreno-Gama informed security staff at the company’s headquarters that he aimed to set the building ablaze and harm those inside.
If found guilty, he faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years for the explosives charge, along with a potential 10-year sentence for the unregistered firearm charge, as indicated in court filings.
