An attack on the home of OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman, as well as on the company's headquarters, has raised concerns that the backlash against artificial intelligence could turn violent. Guardian journalist Nick Robins-Early and researcher Sean Fleming discuss the implications.
The Incident
In a few weeks, at an arraignment hearing in California, Daniel Moreno-Gama will face formal charges, including attempted double homicide. This follows his attack on the home of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, where he threw a Molotov cocktail at the property. Hours later, he attempted to break into the entrance of the company's headquarters.
When he was arrested, according to the criminal complaint, he was carrying a jug of kerosene, a lighter, and what appeared to be an anti-AI manifesto listing prominent CEOs and investors.
Family Statements
As Guardian US tech reporter Nick Robins-Early explains to Annie Kelly, Moreno's family says he was in the grip of an intense mental health crisis and that his actions had nothing to do with his previous statements about AI.
Broader Concerns
Nevertheless, the incident has sparked many questions. Most importantly, as AI technology becomes more integrated into our lives and increasingly divisive, could the backlash against AI become violent? Annie also hears from researcher Sean Fleming from the University of Nottingham, a specialist in anti-technology politics, about ideas currently circulating online and where they might lead.
Photograph: Jeff Chiu/AP
