🌻 AI populism's warning shots

the battles over AI are no longer just about the tech

Sam Altman was targeted by two violent attacks in the last four days. First on Friday, when a man threw a Molotov cocktail into his home, and second yesterday, when two others shot at his door. Nobody was hurt in either case. Still, these acts are horrifying. Most of the AI safety intelligentsia—including some of Altman’s harshest critics—rightfully condemned the crime.

On Instagram, however, the reaction was different.

Responses to the Molotov thrown at Altman’s home (via @paularambles)

CEOs aren’t the only ones facing violent AI backlash. In Indiana last week, local councilman Ron Gibson woke up to 13 gunshots and a note reading “NO DATA CENTERS” at his doorstep. He had recently approved a new data center project in his district. At a planning commission meeting, he told the audience that it was expected to create 300 new jobs over the next three years—but these reassurances did not calm the boos.

I’d wager that incidents like these are only warning shots for how nasty AI politics will get.