A Las Vegas tech entrepreneur says he received a gruesome message following his company’s work with artificial intelligence in the real estate industry. Blake Owens, founder and CEO of Agrippa, told KLAS that on July 29, a bloody, severed pig’s head and a threatening handwritten letter were mailed to a family member’s home.
Owens said the letter ended with the ominous phrase, “pigs get fat and hogs get slaughtered”, and contained personal insults, including calling him a “Clark Kent knockoff.” The package, which appeared to be aimed at his recent AI developments, was sent in the aftermath of a June television segment that profiled Agrippa’s proprietary AI tool, “Marcus.” The software automates real estate transactions by connecting developers with investors and assessing property bids.
Letter Targets AI In Real Estate
The note, signed only with the initial “M,” strongly criticised Owens’ use of AI in commercial property deals. “‘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. So enjoy your moment while it lasts. And don’t get greedy because pigs get fat and hogs get slaughtered.”
Owens Downplays Direct Threat
“Perhaps this person watched too much of The Godfather,” Owens told KLAS with a mix of humour and caution. “Needless to say, I still take it very seriously, but don’t feel like I’m being truly threatened. It was a message.”
Owens stressed that Agrippa’s mission is not to eliminate human jobs, but to enhance efficiency and collaboration in the commercial real estate sector. He said he wants brokers, developers, and investors to embrace AI tools as a way to expand opportunities, not shrink them.