On April 11, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's residence in San Francisco was attacked with a Molotov cocktail, causing no injuries. Police have detained a suspect approximately 20 years old. Following the incident, Altman released a lengthy statement in response, rarely sharing family photos publicly and openly stating that he underestimated the real-world impact of public narratives and emotions amid AI anxiety.

In the statement, Altman expressed understanding of society's fear and unease regarding the rapid development of AI, describing it as "one of the most intense technological revolutions in human history." He noted that the associated risks are no longer limited to model alignment issues but have escalated to systemic societal challenges. He emphasized that AI power should not be concentrated in a few institutions but distributed more broadly through technological democratization and institutional constraints.

In his personal reflection, Altman acknowledged mistakes in corporate governance and conflict resolution, including decision-making issues during conflicts with the board, and apologized for past behaviors. He also reiterated that he rejected Elon Musk's attempts to control OpenAI, stating that this choice ensured the company's independent development path.

On the industry level, Altman pointed out that the competition around AGI has evolved into a "power struggle," where the temptation of "the ring of power" could drive extreme actions. The solution lies in expanding technological accessibility to prevent a single entity from monopolizing critical capabilities.

The incident is seen as a landmark case of AI social sentiment spilling over. Amid overlapping anxieties about job displacement, technological monopolies, and safety risks, the real conflict risks facing AI companies are rising. Altman called for promoting technological progress while reducing social polarization, buffering the transitional shocks through policy and institutional measures.