The culprit in the January 1, 2025, tragic explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump International Hotel used the AI chatbot ChatGPT to plan the attack, according to information released by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
One person was killed and seven people were injured in the explosion that happened at the hotel’s entryway.
The deceased suspect was eventually identified by authorities as Colorado Springs resident Matthew Livelsberger, 37, an active-duty soldier.
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The FBI suspected that Livelsberger, a former Trump supporter, may have been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, but they also suggested that the incident might have been a suicide, pointing out that he had no animosity towards the president-elect.
Las Vegas Metro Sheriff Kevin McMahill said during a press conference on Tuesday that there is evidence that the suspect used ChatGPT to organise the attack.
According to McMahill, this is the first instance of an AI chatbot being used to help create an attack device in the United States.
“We have clear evidence that the suspect used ChatGPT to help plan the attack,” McMahill said. “This is the first incident that I am aware of on U.S. soil where ChatGPT was used in such a manner.”
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ChatGPT’s developer, OpenAI responds
The company that created ChatGPT, OpenAI, responded to the revelation with a statement reaffirming its dedication to using its technology in an ethical manner.
Additionally, the company promised to assist authorities in their inquiry to the fullest extent possible.
“ChatGPT responded with publicly available information and included warnings against harmful or illegal activities,” the statement read. “We are working closely with law enforcement to support their ongoing investigation.”
