Major tech companies are increasing their security budgets significantly as the hostility that artif..

Major tech companies are increasing their security budgets significantly as the hostility that artificial intelligence (AI) technology takes away human jobs and destroys lives spreads.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 15th (local time) that major tech companies are on alert as online threats have led to physical violence in reality. In fact, according to the security company ‘Lifecraft’, digital threats and terrorist threats targeting AI company executives and core data centers soared seven times as of May compared to the end of February.

This hostility doesn’t just stay online. In fact, in April, a man in his 20s was arrested on charges of attempted murder and arson by throwing a firebomb at the home of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. In his belongings, a declaration was found saying, “AI entrepreneurs and investors must be punished.” In addition, 13 bullets flew into the home of Indianapolis City Councilman Ron Gibson, who voted in favor of attracting data centers in the region.

Distrust and hostility toward AI companies are also proven by figures. According to a survey conducted in March by Quinnipiac University, 55% of adults in the United States said “AI is doing more harm than good.” It is estimated that negative public opinion on AI companies overwhelms positive public opinion more than four times.

It is estimated that the biggest cause of antipathy toward AI companies is job threats. After Meta cut 1,400 employees in May in an attempt to transform itself into an AI company, CEO Mark Zuckerberg was seen sailing on a yacht in Seattle, and violent opinions such as “bomb the yacht” and “I hope someone sets the yacht on fire” flooded online.

As people’s hostility toward AI grew, companies paid large amounts of money to protect the CEO. Representatively, Palantir spent $3 million (about 4.4 billion won) last year by increasing CEO Alex Karp’s security budget for personal protection by 150% in a year. Oracle also spent 5.6 million dollars (about 8.3 billion won) as a security budget, up 85% from the previous year, to protect CEO Larry Allison.

“A few years ago, most tech CEOs did not have separate security,” said Dakota Dominguez, vice president of customer management at Silicon Valley security firm JPT Security. “Now, many tech companies are reflecting this in their budgets.”