#SamAltmanSpeaksOutAfterAllegedAttack

OpenAI said on Friday that San Francisco police arrested a suspect accused of throwing a Molotov cocktail at the home of its CEO, Sam Altman, and making threats outside the artificial intelligence startup’s headquarters.

The San Francisco Police Department posted on X that an unidentified man threw an incendiary device at a residence in North Beach at 4:12 a.m. and then fled on foot. About an hour later, police received a report of a man threatening to burn down another building, after which the 20-year-old suspect was detained.

Police did not immediately comment on the suspect’s possible motive.

“Fortunately, no one was injured,” an OpenAI spokesperson said. “We are very grateful for the San Francisco Police Department’s quick response and appreciate the support from the city government in helping ensure the safety of our employees.”

The spokesperson added that the company is cooperating with law enforcement in the investigation.

The incident comes at a time when OpenAI is facing significant pressure. Following disputes between competitor Anthropic and Washington, the company recently reached an agreement with the U.S. government allowing its technology to be used in classified military operations—a move that has sparked backlash. A recent NBC News poll found that artificial intelligence is less popular than the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

In a blog post on Friday afternoon, Sam Altman addressed the incident.

“Much of the criticism of our industry comes from sincere concerns about the incredibly high stakes of this technology,” he wrote,

He added, “As we engage in debate, we should lower the temperature in both rhetoric and strategy, and try to reduce the chances of ‘explosions’ happening in fewer homes—both figuratively and literally.”

San Francisco police said investigators found indications linking the 20-year-old man to the fire at Altman’s residence.