The driver of the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on New Year’s Day allegedly used the AI chatbot ChatGPT to plan the attack, according to law enforcement officials. Authorities revealed on Tuesday that the suspect used the platform to help determine how much explosive material was required to trigger the blast.
The individual identified as Matthew Livelsberger, 37, an active-duty Army soldier from Colorado Springs, was found dead inside the vehicle. The FBI has stated that it appears to be a case of suicide, and that Livelsberger acted alone in the incident. No connection has been made between the Las Vegas explosion and another truck attack in New Orleans that killed more than a dozen people.
This incident marks the first known case in the U.S. where ChatGPT was used to plan and facilitate the creation of an explosive device, raising alarms about the potential misuse of AI technologies. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill highlighted the significance of the case, noting, “Of particular note, we also have clear evidence in this case now that the suspect used ChatGPT artificial intelligence to help plan his attack.”
The explosion left seven individuals with minor injuries, but the use of ChatGPT in this context adds a new layer of concern regarding AI’s role in enabling harmful activities. While OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has emphasized that the tool is designed to prevent harmful use, it acknowledged that the chatbot only provided publicly available information and included warnings against illegal actions in its responses.
The FBI’s investigation continues, with Livelsberger’s phone revealing a six-page manifesto that authorities are actively reviewing for additional clues about his motives and state of mind.