Sam Altman Responds to Home Attacks in Podcast, Predicts More Similar Incidents

Gate News message, April 22 — Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has publicly responded to two attacks on his residence for the first time during a Core Memory podcast appearance. Altman stated that similar incidents are likely to occur in the future, though he did not elaborate on the details of the attacks themselves.

Altman’s residence was targeted twice in April. On April 10, a 20-year-old man, Daniel Moreno-Gama, threw an incendiary device at the front door; security personnel extinguished the fire with no injuries reported. Moreno-Gama was arrested near OpenAI’s headquarters and is facing multiple felony charges including attempted murder and arson. Two days later, on April 12, a Honda sedan passed by Altman’s home and occupants fired a shot. Two suspects, Amanda Tom and Muhamad Tarik Hussein, were arrested on suspicion of reckless discharge; police recovered three firearms. Authorities stated the suspects in both incidents are unrelated.

In the podcast, Altman recounted that the night before the first attack, colleagues were dining at his home discussing negative media coverage. When someone offered reassurance about the stress, Altman joked, “At least no one wants to kill me.” The next day, the incendiary device was thrown at his house. Altman framed the experience as putting things in perspective: online criticism is not significant as long as it remains verbal. He emphasized the distinction between words and actions before returning focus to his work.