OpenAI CEO Sam Altman published a blog post responding to an attack on his home and a critical New Yorker profile questioning his trustworthiness. Early Friday morning, a Molotov cocktail was thrown at Altman’s San Francisco residence, causing no injuries. A suspect was later arrested at OpenAI headquarters after threatening to burn down the building, according to the San Francisco Police Department.
Altman indicated that the attack occurred shortly after the publication of “an incendiary article” about him, suggesting that such narratives could pose real dangers. “I brushed it aside,” Altman said, reflecting on the incident. “Now I am awake in the middle of the night and pissed, and thinking that I have underestimated the power of words and narratives.”
The article, written by Ronan Farrow and Andrew Marantz, featured interviews with over 100 people who described Altman as having “a relentless will to power.” The authors raised concerns about his trustworthiness, with one anonymous board member characterizing him as someone who seeks to please but lacks regard for the consequences of deception.
In his response, Altman acknowledged multiple mistakes, including a propensity for being “conflict-averse,” which he admitted has caused pain for both himself and OpenAI. He referred to a prior conflict with OpenAI’s board that resulted in his removal and quick reinstatement as CEO in 2023.
Altman expressed remorse for the decisions he made during OpenAI’s complex journey, stating, “I am sorry to people I’ve hurt and wish I had learned more faster.” He noted that the competitive nature of the AI industry has led to a “Shakespearean drama” fueled by power dynamics.
He proposed sharing artificial general intelligence (AGI) technology broadly to avoid a concentration of power. “I don’t mean that AGI is the ring itself, but instead the totalizing philosophy of ‘being the one to control AGI,’” he stated. Altman emphasized the importance of addressing the rhetoric surrounding technology, advocating for “good-faith criticism and debate” to foster progress while decreasing violent tensions.
“While we have that debate, we should de-escalate the rhetoric and tactics and try to have fewer explosions in fewer homes, figuratively and literally,” Altman concluded.
