CEO of AI company receives bloodied PIG'S HEAD in threatening hate mail calling him 'Clark Kent knockoff'

Daily Mail​

16 hours ago

A Las Vegas tech CEO received a severed pig's head and threatening letter in the mail believed to stem from his company's use of artificial intelligence.
Blake Owens, founder and CEO of Agrippa - an AI-powered platform that connects commercial real estate investors and developers without the use of traditional brokers - received the bloodied pig's head along with the fear-mongering letter on July 29.
The gruesome package was sent to a family member's home, accompanied by a handwritten note that criticized Owens' use of AI and included personal insults, calling him a 'Clark Kent knockoff.'
The letter ended ominously, reading, 'And don't get greedy because pigs get fat and hogs get slaughtered.'
'Perhaps this person watched too much of The Godfather,' Owens told KLAS. 'Needless to say, I still take it very seriously, but don't feel like I'm being truly threatened. It was a message.'
The note was signed only with the initial 'M' and appeared to be motivated by a June television segment that profiled Owens and Agrippa's AI tool, known as 'Marcus,' which automates real estate transactions by matching developers with investors and evaluating property bids.
'AI is not going to replace brokers,' the letter read.
'Clearly you don't understand real estate wasn't built by developers or investors. And it sure as hell wasn't built by tech guys in Lululemon. It was built by brokers. We did it the hard way. No shortcuts, no tech, just people.'
Owens said he believes the sender may be someone fearful of being displaced by automation.
'I understand this person is probably just frustrated that business isn't going well for them, and then they see AI replacement stories on top of that,' Owens said. 'And I just so happen to be someone they can focus their frustration on.'
A photo of the package shows the sender labeled as 'Marcus Agrippa' - a nod to the company's AI system.
Owens joked, 'Is this a message that you know your own AI is turning against you? I wasn't quite sure how to interpret it.'
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department confirmed it is investigating the incident and has classified it as a harassment case. A suspect has yet to be identified.
Owens has since stated that he does not feel 'genuinely threatened' and does not plan to press charges if the sender is eventually identified.
'I don't want to punch down on this person; they may be in a tough spot in life,' he told KLAS. 'I do see this as an opportunity to show people you don't become a better person by making another man a lesser person.'
Owens also addressed potential anxiety surrounding AI's growing presence in the workforce, particularly in fields like real estate that have historically relied on personal relationships.
'You know, people are scared,' he said. 'They feel displaced. And when disruption moves faster than education, fear just fills the gap.'
Owens added that Agrippa is not designed to replace humans, but to empower professionals through AI.
'[Winston Churchill] said to be perfect is to change often,' Owens said. 'I think a lot of people are afraid of change and what's coming with AI, because it really is a tsunami of change that people are trying to resist. But the more you embrace it, the better you'll do, the more skills that you'll accumulate, more value you'll bring to the table.'
Las Vegas is increasingly becoming a hub for AI innovation. MGM Resorts recently introduced 70 to 80 new AI systems across its departments, including front desk operations, and the newly opened Otonomous Hotel, which launched on July 1, brands itself as the world's first fully AI-powered resort, KLAS reported.
'You look at Agrippa, TensorWave, look at Otonomous Hotel, everyone is trying to bring AI to the forefront, and it sheds some light on how great this city is and what we can do with the talent we have here,' Owens said.
'May ruffle some feathers in the process, but in the long run, I think that it's the best thing to do,' the tech CEO added.
Despite the threatening nature of the package, Owens says he is committed to encouraging dialogue.
'If I knew who this person was, I'd say, "Hey, feel free to reach out to me - maybe not with a package, just send me an email - I'm happy to share whatever education I can on keeping up with AI,"' Owens told Inman.
The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.