{"slug": "ai-company-execs-are-living-in-fear-as-backlash-to-technology-sees-death-threats", "title": "AI company execs are living in fear as backlash to technology sees death threats mount", "summary": "AI company executives are facing escalating death threats and security concerns as public backlash against the technology intensifies, with incidents including a break-in at Anthropic headquarters and a Molotov cocktail attack at OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's home. Executives are limiting public discussions about AI, shifting messaging to highlight benefits, and increasing personal security measures in response to the threats.", "body_md": "# AI company execs are living in fear as backlash to technology sees death threats mount\n\n‘What has surprised me is how bad it’s gotten,’ one exec said\n\n- Bookmark\n- CommentsGo to comments\n\nAI company executives say the growing backlash to their products is putting their lives in danger and leading to an avalanche of death threats.\n\nReporting from the [ Wall Street Journal](https://www.wsj.com/us-news/the-ai-backlash-has-tech-executives-fearing-for-their-lives-30c43972?mod=us-news_trendingnow_article_pos1) found that deadly threats to AI workers and AI offices are increasing as public sentiment against the technology has grown.\n\nThis reporting comes after a man broke into the Anthropic headquarters with the aim of killing a top executive at the AI company, authorities said. It also comes after a [Molotov cocktail was thrown and shots were fired at OpenAI ](/news/world/americas/crime/sam-altman-openai-molotov-gama-ai-b2957064.html)CEO, Sam Altman’s, house in April.\n\n“What has surprised me is how bad it’s gotten over such a short period of time,” Jonathan Graff, CEO of Liferaft, an AI company that supports corporate security intelligence teams, told the outlet.\n\nThe most high-profile corporate assassination in recent years was the shooting of[ United Healthcare CEO, Brian Thompson, in 2024](/news/world/americas/united-healthcare-brian-thompson-nyc-ceo-killed-insurance-b2661036.html).\n\nHis company was unpopular at the time of his death due to its history of declining health insurance for critical care. He was shot and killed while attending a conference in midtown Manhattan. The suspect, Luigi Mangione, still awaits trial in connection to the alleged murder.\n\nDespite Thompson not working in AI, tech workers fear that they could be at the receiving end of similar attacks in the coming months and years.\n\nNow, AI executives are attempting to limit how much they discuss their work in public, are pivoting talking points away from how AI will impact jobs to the perceived positive benefits of the technology, and are beefing up their personal security teams, according to the *Journal*.\n\nData reviewed by the *WSJ* shows that San Francisco police have responded to several threats made against the Anthropic and OpenAI headquarters. The exact number of calls was not included in the report.\n\nThe fear over AI and its impact on society and jobs has led some people to become radicalized and work to stop the spread of AI.\n\nThe suspect accused of throwing a Molotov cocktail at Altman’s house possessed a manifesto calling for [the death of AI CEOs and investors](/bulletin/news/sam-altman-artificial-intelligence-molotov-cocktail-attack-b2957400.html). He has pleaded not guilty.\n\nA man posing as a potential Anthropic employee told employers at the company he wanted to skin their children due to the company’s alleged theft of his work. And, according to Liferaft data given to the *WSJ,* digital threats targeting AI chiefs and data centers grew sevenfold between February and May.\n\nData centers have become persona non grata in many communities given concerns over their size and impacts on livability.\n\nDakota Dominguez, vice president of client relations at Silicon Valley based security firm JPT Security, was quoted in the [ Journal](https://www.wsj.com/us-news/the-ai-backlash-has-tech-executives-fearing-for-their-lives-30c43972?mod=us-news_trendingnow_article_pos1) saying: “Tech CEOs, a few years ago, definitely did not have security. A lot of tech companies now are incorporating that into their budgets.”\n\nThe *Journal* also found comments online made by Anthropic security workers stating that their costs has grown significantly in the past year, from working to protect the CEO to now protecting C-Suite executives and their families.\n\nAI insurance company Corgi, which owns a cafe in San Francisco, faces protestors outside every day who are railing against AI impacting their rent and the environment. The CEO has now hired additional security for the cafe, per the [ Journal](https://www.wsj.com/us-news/the-ai-backlash-has-tech-executives-fearing-for-their-lives-30c43972?mod=us-news_trendingnow_article_pos1).\n\n## Join our commenting forum\n\nJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies\n\n[Comments](#comments-area)", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/ai-company-execs-are-living-in-fear-as-backlash-to-technology-sees-death-threats", "canonical_source": "https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/ai-companies-fear-death-threats-backlash-b3016997.html", "published_at": "2026-07-17 16:54:09+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-07-17 16:59:13.901661+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["ai-safety", "ai-ethics", "ai-policy"], "entities": ["Anthropic", "OpenAI", "Sam Altman", "Jonathan Graff", "Liferaft", "JPT Security", "Corgi", "Wall Street Journal"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/ai-company-execs-are-living-in-fear-as-backlash-to-technology-sees-death-threats", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/ai-company-execs-are-living-in-fear-as-backlash-to-technology-sees-death-threats.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/ai-company-execs-are-living-in-fear-as-backlash-to-technology-sees-death-threats.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/ai-company-execs-are-living-in-fear-as-backlash-to-technology-sees-death-threats.jsonld"}}