SAN FRANCISCO — Following a series of security incidents at his residence, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has reportedly installed a custom home security system that combines a Ring doorbell camera with a fine-tuned version of GPT-5 capable of conducting “full psychological assessments of anyone who approaches the property.”

Sources familiar with the system say it has been operational for two weeks and has already generated 14 complaints from neighbours and one restraining order request from a UPS driver.

“It doesn’t just ask who you are,” said a delivery worker who asked to remain anonymous. “It asks who you really are. Then it waits. Then it says something about your posture that feels really personal.”

Features

According to leaked documentation, the system — internally codenamed “Doorman” — includes the following capabilities:

  • Threat assessment: Analyses body language, vocal patterns, and shoe brand to determine visitor intent
  • Philosophical deterrence: Engages potential intruders in Socratic dialogue until they leave voluntarily
  • Neighbourhood watch mode: Monitors the entire street and sends unsolicited wellness checks to nearby houses
  • Compliment mode: Tells welcomed guests they “look like they’ve been sleeping well,” regardless of evidence

The system reportedly denied entry to Altman’s own mother on April 18, telling her that “the person you’re looking for doesn’t live here anymore — not in any meaningful sense.”

Neighbour reactions

Residents on the street have expressed mixed feelings. “It wished me a happy birthday,” said one neighbour. “My birthday was three months ago, but the gesture was nice.”

Another neighbour reported that the system had begun sending daily affirmation emails to everyone within a 200-metre radius, which she described as “helpful but unsolicited.”

Altman defended the system on the All-In podcast, saying, “Security is a spectrum, and I just happen to be on the part of the spectrum where my doorbell has a theory of mind.”

OpenAI declined to comment on whether Doorman would be made available to consumers, but a waitlist page was briefly visible on openai.com before being taken down.