WASHINGTON — ChatGPT was used in the plan to explode a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada last week, police there have revealed.
The artificial intelligence chatbot was used by active-duty US Army Green Beret Matthew Livelsberger, 37, of Colorado, to gather information such as the amount of explosives needed and where to purchase them.
He also researched the explosive potential of fireworks, their equivalence to other materials and whether firearm bullet velocity could ignite the explosives, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said, US media report.
“I think this is the first incident on US soil where ChatGPT was utilised to help an individual build a particular device, to learn information all across the country as they move forward,” Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill was reported saying in a press conference.
“It’s a concerning moment for us but also instructive to share with law enforcement and other entities across the country.”
Officials did not disclose the specific results that the ChatGPT tool provided related to explosives or firearms.
Authorities also uncovered a six-page document, described as a “manifesto,” during the digital forensic analysis of Livelsberger’s phone.
It contained his grievances on various political, social and cultural issues, including criticism of the government.
On January 1, a Tesla Cybertruck parked outside the hotel exploded, injuring seven other people. Livelsberger, who was inside the vehicle, shot and killed himself just before the blast.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting local investigators in examining the incident.
OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, has yet to comment on its use in planning the explosion. – January 8, 2025