“At approximately 3:45 p.m. PT, an unknown individual arrived at Sam’s residence and threw an incendiary device toward the property. The device landed nearby and extinguished. There were no injuries and only minimal damage was reported,” the message to employees reads.
“Shortly afterward, a man matching the suspect’s description was contacted by security outside MB1,” the message continues, referring to OpenAI’s headquarters in San Francisco’s Mission Bay neighborhood. “This individual made threatening statements about the building.”
OpenAI’s corporate security team told employees it is cooperating with law enforcement in the investigation, and employees may see an increased police and security presence around the office on Friday. The security team said the company’s offices will remain open, but employees have been advised “not to allow anyone into the building from the back.”
“Early this morning, someone threw a Molotov cocktail at Sam Altman’s home and also made threats at our San Francisco headquarters. Thankfully, no one was hurt,” OpenAI spokesperson Kayla Wood said in an email to WIRED. “We deeply appreciate how quickly the SFPD responded and the support from the City to help keep our employees safe. The individual is in custody, and we are assisting law enforcement with their investigation.”
The San Francisco Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
This is the latest incident in which OpenAI’s office and employees have been threatened. In November last year, OpenAI closed its San Francisco office after an alleged threat to an activist. In February 2025, protesters were arrested for blocking the front doors of OpenAI’s office.
<a href