In January, podcaster Andy Mills spoke with an individual expressing extremist views about technology, who later claimed to have harmed a tech executive on Discord. Mills was taken aback last week upon hearing that a 20-year-old had been arrested for allegedly attempting to kill OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
“When I saw this guy’s name, my first thought was, ‘Oh my God, it’s Dan,'” Mills shared.
Daniel Moreno-Gama was arrested on Monday for reportedly throwing a Molotov cocktail at Altman’s residence in San Francisco on April 10, and for heaving another at OpenAI’s headquarters, which is about four miles away. Authorities allege he had an anti-AI manifesto with ominous statements, expressing that, “If you intend to encourage others to commit murder or other criminal acts, you must set an example…” The Department of Justice has charged him with both attempted murder and arson.
The podcast episode titled, “Sam Altman’s attacker, in his own words” was released last Thursday.
Mills, who hosts The Last Invention—a podcast examining various perspectives on artificial intelligence—found Moreno-Gama on Pause AI, a Discord channel focused on discussing the risks associated with AI.
A college student from Spring, Texas, anonymously toyed with the idea of using violence against tech leaders while adopting the username Butlerian Jihadist, a nod to the Dune novels.
“Will I get banned for talking about violence?” he queried during the discussion.
Mills elaborated that he reached out to ask, “What were you thinking when you mentioned violence?” Moreno-Gama’s response was rather light—”Why don’t we just make Luigi the CEO of a tech company?”—in apparent jest.
As the conversation progressed, Moreno-Gama became more contemplative when asked if students at Lone Star really believed violence against AI executives would yield positive outcomes.
Moreno-Gama remarked, “I had no intention of threatening anything. I think we should explore all peaceful options before considering violence. We need to protest, share information—that’s the path we should take before resorting to anything drastic.”
Mills then probed, “Do you think the industry must take extreme measures to avoid human extinction?” To which Moreno-Gama hesitated, ultimately saying, “I have no comment.”
“He appeared serious, quite knowledgeable,” Mills reflected. “He had a remarkable understanding of the debates surrounding AI’s future.”
Throughout their discussion, Moreno-Gama distanced himself from calls for violence, advocating instead for measures to regulate the number and size of data centers.
“I don’t view myself as a violent individual. I generally consider violence to be an absolute last resort. I don’t mean to imply it’s the final solution, but, well, you understand.” he explained.
He recounted his first brush with AI during high school, admitting, “Initially, when ChatGPT was released, I thought it was incredible. It felt like the ultimate cheat for everything.” But he didn’t fully grasp how it might influence his education back then, recalling being in second grade at the time.
Later, he stumbled onto YouTube where he found perspectives from researchers like Eliezer Yudkowsky, who warned that artificial general intelligence could pose a grave risk to humanity: “If someone builds it, we all die.”
Moreno-Gama opined, “If more people were aware of this subject as I am, understanding the statistics at play, many would likely share my concerns. For example, if an engineer suggested a bridge has a 25% chance of collapsing, wouldn’t most people be troubled by that?”
Moreover, he expressed a sense of urgency, feeling compelled to raise awareness about his concerns surrounding AI.
Despite the weight of their conversation, Mills departed the interview without sensing any imminent danger from Moreno-Gama, noting, “I’ve had conversations with violent offenders before. He didn’t give off the impression of someone close to acting out.” But he recognized a motivation for notoriety.
“He didn’t just want a chat. He seemed genuinely keen to be part of the podcast, asking, ‘When will it be published?'” Mills recounted.
Mills also sensed a hint of martyrdom in Moreno-Gama’s actions. “There were elements in his conduct reminiscent of school shootings—like a desire to ensure people recognized him as someone significant, as a warrior.”,”
