Bill Gates Sounds Alarm on Cyberattacks Fueled by AI Risks

WHO:

CNN - Anthony Hinojosa, a 33-year-old lawn-care businessman, faces felony charges for intimidation and harassment through electronic communication after making threats related to a proposed data center in Troy, Illinois.

CNN - Minneapolis council member Michael Rainville received threats suggesting that the sender knew his home address and vehicle details.

CNN - Harley DeLander, a 28-year-old from Dixon, Illinois, faced multiple felony charges, including intimidation and cyberstalking, after making threatening comments about a local official linked to a potential data center site.

CNN - Minneapolis council member Michael Rainville expressed concern over threats he received, stating, “Please stop the threats against me and my family.”

CNN - Anthony Hinojosa, a 33-year-old lawn-care businessman, was arrested for making terroristic threats regarding a proposed data center in Troy, Illinois.

Drudge Report - Bill Gates, Microsoft co-founder

NY Post - Bill Gates

WHAT:

CNN - Police records indicate that there have been over 100 incidents involving threats, intimidation, or planned attacks related to data centers since last year.

CNN - A handwritten warning at an Amazon data center construction site in Virginia claimed there were a dozen pipe bombs, which was later confirmed to be an empty threat.

CNN - A representative for an electrician business in Loudoun County, Virginia, reported that bomb threats at data center construction sites caused colleagues to lose wages due to regular closures.

CNN - Bill Gates warned that artificial intelligence could fuel a wave of cyberattacks over the next year.

CNN - A handwritten warning was left at an Amazon data center construction site in suburban Virginia, claiming a dozen pipe bombs would explode in the next half hour, which was later confirmed to be an empty threat.

CNN - Police records reviewed show over 100 incidents involving threats, intimidation, or planned attacks related to data centers since last year.

CNN - Nearly nine in 10 Americans say they’re more concerned than excited about the rise of data centers, according to a CNN poll conducted by SSRS in September.

CNN - DeLander was charged after posting on Facebook that a local official "needs to have someone put the fear of god in him and his family."

CNN - The U.S. government is allocating $1 trillion to defense spending, with $13.5 billion designated for autonomous systems and AI.

CNN - Police records reviewed show over 100 incidents involving threats, intimidation, or planned attacks related to data centers.

CNN - A man in Salt Lake County, Utah, was charged with stalking and making multiple threats of violence against someone linked to a data center project, leading to the victim spending about $14,000 on home security.

CNN - A representative for an electrician business in Loudoun County, Virginia, reported that bomb threats at data center construction sites caused colleagues to lose wages due to regular closures.

Fast Company - President Trump signed a voluntary safety pact for AI, described as "almost a constitution," which outlines that advanced AI labs should follow safety protocols and set up internal teams to monitor their own progress.

Fast Company - The U.S. government is allocating $1 trillion to defense spending, with $13.5 billion designated for autonomous systems and AI.

CNN - Authorities have received reports of at least nine bomb threats at data center construction sites in Loudoun County, Virginia, in less than a year.

CNN - A representative for an electrician business in Loudoun County complained that the frequency of bomb scares was causing colleagues to lose wages due to regular closures.

CNN - Police records reviewed by CNN show about 70 incidents involving threats, intimidation, or planned attacks related to data centers.

CNN - In one case, a man in Salt Lake County, Utah, was charged with stalking and making multiple threats of violence against someone linked to a data center project.

CNN - A man in Bell County, Texas, was arrested for allegedly threatening officials in an online post that referenced the murder of a UnitedHealthcare CEO.

CNN - Nearly nine in 10 Americans say they’re more concerned than excited about the rise of data centers, according to a CNN poll conducted by SSRS in September.

CNN - A West Virginia agency shared a report about “potential risks” associated with a website that maps data center projects across the country.

CNN - In June, US Capitol Police alerted law enforcement about protests by Humans First, a group chaired by Amy Kremer, targeting AI Data Centers.

CNN - President Trump stated that he would henceforth repurpose “artificial” — an “ugly” word, for the news media.

CNN - Elon Musk said on X that he would change the name of his company from SpaceXAI to SpaceXSI, although that particular change has not yet occurred.

CNN - Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg published a 6,000-word treatise about how Meta would approach AI, referring to the promise of superintelligence.

CNN - OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated that people in the industry have been using the term superintelligence for a while, but there are no plans to change the name of his company to OpenSI.

CNN - President Trump signed an executive order in late September to change the terminology from "artificial intelligence" to "super intelligence" in official documents and communications.

CNN - President Trump stated that anyone using the term "artificial intelligence" instead of "super intelligence" will be viewed by his White House as “THE ENEMY!”

Drudge Report - Bill Gates warned that cyberattacks are the most imminent threat posed by artificial intelligence.

NY Post - Gates stated that artificial intelligence could fuel a wave of cyberattacks over the next year.

WHERE:

CNN - The city of Troy, Illinois, is where Anthony Hinojosa made threatening comments regarding a proposed data center.

CNN - The city of Dixon, Illinois, is where Harley DeLander made his threatening comments regarding a local official.

CNN - The city of Manassas, Virginia, was the site of a bomb threat that led to an evacuation of workers at an Amazon data center construction site.

WHEN:

NY Post - Gates issued his warning on a Sunday.

WHY:

CNN - President Trump aims to alter public perception of AI, which he believes is unpopular among Americans, by rebranding it as "super intelligence."

NY Post - Gates expressed concern that "bad people" could exploit a lack of safeguards in AI to commit cyberattacks.

HOW:

CNN - Authorities have issued warnings of potential attacks and monitored activists, with some citizens arrested for comments against data centers, including a woman in El Paso, Texas, who expressed a desire to see local officials voted out of office.

CNN - DeLander's case resulted in him losing his job and being forced to wear an ankle monitor after he was charged with multiple felonies.

Fast Company - The White House's new agreement lacks specific guidelines for tests and transparency reports, contrasting with previous commitments made under Democratic President Joe Biden.

CNN - Authorities have issued warnings of potential attacks and monitored activists, with some citizens arrested for comments against data centers.

CNN - Police in El Paso, Texas, questioned at least three data center opponents, including a woman who expressed a desire to see local officials voted out of office.

CNN - Authorities have issued warnings of potential attacks and monitored activists, with some citizens arrested for comments against data centers.

CNN - The U.S. government has begun changing official documents and websites to reflect the new terminology following Trump's executive order.

NY Post - Gates highlighted the potential for AI to be used in malicious ways due to insufficient protective measures.

(UPDATED October 12, 2026 23:58 UTC)

Anthony Hinojosa, a 33-year-old lawn-care businessman, is facing felony charges for making threats related to a proposed data center in Troy, Illinois. Police records show that there have been over 100 incidents of threats and intimidation linked to data centers since last year, including a recent bomb threat at an Amazon construction site in Virginia that turned out to be an empty claim. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and have issued warnings about potential attacks, with some individuals arrested for making threatening comments against data centers, including a woman in El Paso, Texas.

(UPDATED October 12, 2026 21:58 UTC)

Bill Gates has issued a warning that artificial intelligence could lead to a surge of cyberattacks in the coming year. In a separate incident, a handwritten note claiming that a dozen pipe bombs would detonate at an Amazon data center construction site in Virginia was deemed an empty threat, although police records indicate over 100 incidents of threats or planned attacks related to data centers have occurred since last year. A recent CNN poll shows that nearly nine in 10 Americans feel more concerned than excited about the rise of data centers, prompting authorities to issue warnings and monitor activists, with some arrests made for comments against these facilities.

(UPDATED October 12, 2026 21:03 UTC)

Harley DeLander, a 28-year-old from Dixon, Illinois, is facing multiple felony charges, including intimidation and cyberstalking, after making threatening comments about a local official linked to a potential data center site. DeLander was charged after posting on Facebook that the official "needs to have someone put the fear of god in him and his family," which led to him losing his job and being required to wear an ankle monitor. In related news, the U.S. government is allocating $1 trillion to defense spending, with $13.5 billion specifically designated for autonomous systems and AI.

(UPDATED October 12, 2026 19:04 UTC)

Minneapolis council member Michael Rainville has voiced his concerns over threats directed at him and his family, urging for them to stop. In related news, Anthony Hinojosa, a 33-year-old lawn-care businessman, was arrested for making terroristic threats regarding a proposed data center in Troy, Illinois, as police records reveal over 100 incidents involving threats or intimidation linked to data centers across various locations. Additionally, a bomb threat in Manassas, Virginia, prompted the evacuation of workers at an Amazon data center construction site, while authorities continue to monitor activists and issue warnings about potential attacks.

(UPDATED October 12, 2026 16:01 UTC)

President Trump has signed a voluntary safety pact for AI, which he described as "almost a constitution," mandating that advanced AI labs adhere to safety protocols and establish internal monitoring teams. In addition, the U.S. government is set to allocate $1 trillion for defense spending, with $13.5 billion specifically earmarked for autonomous systems and AI. However, this new agreement from the White House does not include specific guidelines for testing and transparency reports, marking a departure from the commitments made during the administration of Democratic President Joe Biden.

(UPDATED October 12, 2026 15:07 UTC)

Authorities in Loudoun County, Virginia, have reported at least nine bomb threats at data center construction sites over the past year, raising concerns about safety and financial losses for workers due to frequent closures. Police records indicate around 70 incidents involving threats or intimidation related to these data centers, and in a separate case, a man in Salt Lake County, Utah, was charged with stalking and making threats against someone associated with a data center project. Additionally, a man in Bell County, Texas, was arrested for allegedly threatening officials in an online post that referenced the murder of a UnitedHealthcare CEO, prompting law enforcement to monitor activists and question several opponents of data centers in El Paso.

(UPDATED October 12, 2026 13:24 UTC)

A recent CNN poll reveals that nearly nine in ten Americans express more concern than excitement regarding the rise of data centers. In West Virginia, a state agency has reported potential risks linked to a website that maps these data center projects across the country, while US Capitol Police have previously alerted law enforcement about protests organized by the group Humans First, chaired by Amy Kremer, targeting these facilities. Authorities are now issuing warnings about potential attacks and are actively monitoring activists, leading to some arrests for comments made against data centers.

(UPDATED October 12, 2026 11:59 UTC)

President Trump announced that he would repurpose the term "artificial," calling it an "ugly" word for the news media. Meanwhile, Elon Musk revealed on X that he intends to rename his company from SpaceXAI to SpaceXSI, although that change has not yet taken place. In other news, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg shared a lengthy treatise discussing Meta's approach to AI and the potential of superintelligence, while OpenAI CEO Sam Altman noted that although the term has been in use for some time, there are no plans to rename his company to OpenSI.

(UPDATED October 12, 2026 11:03 UTC)

President Trump recently signed an executive order to change the terminology from "artificial intelligence" to "super intelligence" in official documents and communications, declaring that anyone who uses the former term will be considered "THE ENEMY!" This move aims to reshape public perception of AI, which Trump believes is viewed unfavorably by many Americans. Following this directive, the U.S. government has started updating official documents and websites to incorporate the new terminology.

(UPDATED October 12, 2026 01:37 UTC)

Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, has issued a stark warning about the dangers of artificial intelligence, stating that it could lead to a significant increase in cyberattacks over the next year. He expressed concern that "bad people" might exploit the current lack of safeguards in AI technology to carry out these malicious acts. Gates emphasized that without adequate protective measures, the potential for AI to be used in harmful ways is alarmingly high.