"Give Me Back My Job": Rising Hostility and Attacks Against AI Firms in Silicon Valley

In Silicon Valley, there has been a surge in attempted attacks and disturbances targeting tech companies by individuals frustrated with the rapid spread of artificial intelligence (AI).

According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on July 15 (local time), a man broke into the lobby of the Anthropic headquarters in San Francisco this past April.

The man followed closely behind an employee with a security badge to gain entry. He then presented security staff with an envelope bearing the name of an Anthropic executive, warning them that "this person will be killed."

A few days earlier, there was also an incident where a Molotov cocktail was thrown at the home of Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI.

Cogi, an AI-powered insurance company, experienced an incident earlier this year where one of its company shuttle buses was vandalized.

Nico Laqua, CEO of Cogi, stated that it is common for people to stop in front of the company cafe to shout or hurl profanities.

Hostility toward AI companies is even more intense in online spaces.

According to LifeRaft, an online intelligence firm, the volume of digital threats targeting AI company leaders and data centers increased by approximately sevenfold as of May compared to three months prior.

The San Francisco Police Department has already responded multiple times to reports of online threats directed at employees of Anthropic and OpenAI.

These include an incident where an anonymous man threatened to harm the children of company employees, claiming that his work had been stolen by AI.

Facing stronger-than-expected backlash, companies are shifting their promotional strategies to emphasize the social utility and potential benefits of AI technology in an effort to appease the public, whose wariness has grown.

At the same time, they are taking measures to ensure personal safety, such as strengthening executive protection and informing employees about the potential risks of attacks.

In the case of Palantir Technologies, spending on executive protection reached nearly 3 million dollars (approximately 4.5 billion won) in 2025.

This figure represents an increase of approximately 150% compared to the previous year.

Nabi Numeir, a long-time security expert in Silicon Valley, reported that AI companies are increasingly discouraging employees from wearing clothing with company logos due to the risk of targeted attacks.

Within Silicon Valley, the prevailing view is that the backlash is driven by public fear of unemployment.

Alex Karp, CEO of Palantir, said at the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this year, "When people hear 'your jobs will disappear,' they pick up pitchforks."
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.