Trump hotel bomber used ChatGPT to plan Cybertruck explosion

• Published On: 09 January 2025 at 20:17

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has revealed that the suspect responsible for the deadly explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump International Hotel on January 1, 2025, used the AI chatbot ChatGPT to plan the attack.

The explosion, which occurred at the hotel's entrance, killed one person and injured seven others.

Authorities later identified the deceased as Matthew Livelsberger, a 37-year-old active-duty soldier from Colorado Springs.

While the FBI suggested that the incident was a suicide, noting that Livelsberger, a former Trump supporter, had no ill will towards the president-elect, they also speculated that he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

In a Tuesday press conference, Las Vegas Metro Sheriff Kevin McMahill confirmed that evidence points to the suspect using ChatGPT to plan the attack. McMahill noted that this is the first known case in the United States where an AI chatbot was used to help create an assault device.

"We have clear evidence that the suspect used ChatGPT to help plan the attack," McMahill informed the crowd. "This is the first incident that I am aware of on U.S. soil where ChatGPT was used in such a manner."

In response to the news, OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, released a statement emphasising its commitment to ethical technology use. The company also promised full cooperation with authorities during their investigation.

"ChatGPT responded with publicly available information and included warnings against harmful or illegal activities," according to a statement. "We are working closely with law enforcement to support their ongoing investigation."