As Threats Against AI Executives Surge, Tech Giants Are Beefing Up Security: ‘People Go for the Pitchfork’

Jul 17, 2026 09:45 PM - 5 hours ago 237

Days aft a firebombing astatine Sam Altman’s house, an intruder snuck into Anthropic’s lobby to pass of a threat.

By Jonathan Small | edited by Dan Bova | Jul 17, 2026

It’s getting much vulnerable to beryllium an executive successful the AI space. Threats targeting AI leaders and data centers jumped 7x betwixt precocious February and May, according to the Wall Street Journal. Days aft an attempted firebombing astatine OpenAI CEO Sam Altman‘s home, an intruder walked into Anthropic’s lobby to pass an executive was “going to beryllium killed.”

Tech companies are responding by pumping up security. Palantir’s executive protection fund roseate 150% to astir $3 cardinal successful 2025. Oracle’s climbed 85% to $5.6 million, mostly backing information for Larry Ellison. Across the S&P 500, the stock of tech companies disclosing executive protection spending grew from 26.8% successful 2021 to 38.1% past year.

The anger stems mostly from job-loss anxiety. Palantir CEO Alex Karp said fearfulness of unemployment is fueling the rage: erstwhile group are told their occupation will disappear, he said, “people spell for the pitchfork.” Anthropic said it now runs round-the-clock information and tracks concerning behaviour to drawback escalation patterns early.

It’s getting much vulnerable to beryllium an executive successful the AI space. Threats targeting AI leaders and data centers jumped 7x betwixt precocious February and May, according to the Wall Street Journal. Days aft an attempted firebombing astatine OpenAI CEO Sam Altman‘s home, an intruder walked into Anthropic’s lobby to pass an executive was “going to beryllium killed.”

Tech companies are responding by pumping up security. Palantir’s executive protection fund roseate 150% to astir $3 cardinal successful 2025. Oracle’s climbed 85% to $5.6 million, mostly backing information for Larry Ellison. Across the S&P 500, the stock of tech companies disclosing executive protection spending grew from 26.8% successful 2021 to 38.1% past year.

The anger stems mostly from job-loss anxiety. Palantir CEO Alex Karp said fearfulness of unemployment is fueling the rage: erstwhile group are told their occupation will disappear, he said, “people spell for the pitchfork.” Anthropic said it now runs round-the-clock information and tracks concerning behaviour to drawback escalation patterns early.

Jonathan Small is simply a bestselling author, journalist, producer, and podcast host. For 25 years, he... Read more

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