The man accused of throwing a firebomb at the house in San Francisco of the executive director of OpenAI, Sam Altmanpleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of attempted murder and attempted arson.
Daniel Alejandro Moreno Gamadressed in an orange prison uniform, did not speak as his attorney presented statements during his arraignment in state court. The 20-year-old also faces federal charges.
Authorities allege that Moreno Gama, originally from Spring, Texas, He threw the incendiary device at Altman’s home last month, setting an exterior fence on fire before fleeing on foot.. Less than an hour later, he went to OpenAI’s headquarters, about 5 kilometers (3 miles) away, and threatened to set the building on fire, they said.
Diamond Wardthe public defender representing Moreno Gama, stated after the hearing that her client was going through a mental health crisis and that he had been overcharged.
“Daniel is a kind and hard-working person who has publicly advocated for peaceful measures to address the danger of AI to humanity,” Ward said.
He attributed Moreno Gama’s actions to “a mental health crisis and not any desire to do harm” and suggested that prosecutors were trying to curry favor with Altman and ignoring evidence of his client’s mental health problems.
During the hearing, Ward requested a mental health evaluation for the defendant. The judge granted the request and scheduled another hearing for later this month to review the results.
San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said last month that Moreno Gama carried out “a targeted attack on Mr. Altman” and that prosecutors had evidence to support the charges.
Moreno Gama’s parents said in a statement shortly after the attack that he has never hurt anyone and that he recently began having mental health problems.
Authorities said the man, who works part-time at a pizzeria and attends community college, expressed his hatred of artificial intelligence in his writings, describing it as a danger to humanity and warning of “imminent extinction,” according to court documents.
Authorities have not said whether Altman was home at the time of the attack.
The state charges, which also include attempted arson and attempted criminal threats, carry penalties ranging from 19 years to life in prison.
Federal prosecutors charged Moreno Gama with possession of an unregistered firearm, and damage and destruction of property by means of explosives. Those charges carry maximum prison sentences of 10 years and 20 years, respectively.
Moreno Gama made his first appearance in federal court on Friday.