San Francisco police early on Friday arrested a 20-year-old man accused of throwing a Molotov cocktail at OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's North Beach home and later threatening to burn down a building outside the company's headquarters.
OpenAI confirmed the arrest.
"Thankfully, no one was hurt," a spokesman told Reuters. "We deeply appreciate how quickly SFPD responded and the support from the city in helping keep our employees safe."
NTD News has contacted OpenAI and the SFPD with questions seeking further comment. No reply was received prior to publication.
Police said in their statement that just after 4 a.m., officers were dispatched to a North Beach address after an unknown male hurled the incendiary device at the home, igniting the exterior gate. The suspect fled on foot before officers arrived. No injuries were reported. Police immediately broadcast a description of the suspect to officers across the city.
Less than an hour later, at 5:07 a.m., a separate call came in. A male was reportedly threatening to burn down a building at a business on the 1400 block of Third Street—the same block where OpenAI maintains its San Francisco headquarters. When officers arrived, they recognized the man as matching the description from the earlier North Beach incident and immediately detained him.
Through their investigation, officers developed probable cause to formally place the 20-year-old under arrest. Charges are still pending. Police stressed that while an arrest has been made, the case remains open and active.
OpenAI said it is cooperating fully with law enforcement. The company did not release the name of the suspect or provide additional details about a potential motive.
The SFPD's post on X also did not identify the residence as belonging to Altman, nor did it name OpenAI as the business where threats were made.
The incident comes at a turbulent time for the artificial intelligence company. OpenAI has recently drawn backlash over a deal it struck with the U.S. government to allow its technology to be used in classified military operations, after rival AI company Anthropic found itself in a dispute with Washington over a similar matter. Just last month, protesters rallied outside OpenAI’s Mission Bay headquarters over the company’s deal.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the San Francisco Police Department at 415-575-4444, or submit an anonymous tip to TIP411 by texting "SFPD" at the start of the message.