A soldier is believed to have used a Cybertruck to cause an explosion outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on New Year’s Day. Officials stated that he used artificial intelligence to learn how to trigger the blast.
Matthew Alan Livelsberger, 37, asked ChatGPT for guidance on making explosives, how fast a bullet would need to be fired for the explosives in the truck to detonate, and what laws he needed to bypass to obtain the materials.
Sheriff Kevin McMahill from Clark County mentioned that AI was expected to significantly impact our lives. He noted that this might be the first known case in the U.S. where someone used ChatGPT to assist in creating a device.
Last week, Las Vegas police identified Livelsberger as the person responsible for the explosion. The coroner confirmed that he died from a gunshot wound he inflicted on himself.
Authorities managed to identify his charred body using DNA from family members and tattoos.
On Tuesday, police shared footage of Livelsberger pouring what they claimed was racing fuel from the Cybertruck onto the part containing explosives.
Kenny Cooper, an official with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, suggested that Livelsberger’s self-inflicted gunshot might have triggered a “fuel air explosion” by igniting the fireworks and other explosive materials in the truck.
Investigators did not find any purchase records or evidence indicating that Livelsberger used a remote-controlled device or a complex timing system for the explosion.
A representative from OpenAI, which owns ChatGPT, expressed sadness that their technology was misused for planning the attack.
They stated they are committed to ensuring AI tools are used safely and that their models are designed to avoid harmful instructions. In this instance, ChatGPT provided information already available online and warned against illegal activities.
The spokesperson mentioned that the company is cooperating with law enforcement in the investigation.
The use of AI like ChatGPT is becoming a major concern for police, who fear that attackers might use it as a guide for carrying out harmful acts.
Rebecca Weiner, a deputy police commissioner in New York City, explained that AI can amplify existing problems, making harmful actions easier and more widespread.
When asked if police should have been aware of Livelsberger’s ChatGPT inquiries, McMahill said he wasn’t sure if tracking AI usage was possible yet.
Law enforcement in Las Vegas and New York told reporters that they currently lack cooperation from AI companies to be notified when someone searches for information on conducting attacks or making explosives.
Last week, authorities discovered that Livelsberger had criticized the U.S. government in an app found on one of his phones and seemed to admit he intentionally blew up the Cybertruck.
Two letters on the phone suggested he felt strongly about his views. In one, he urged fellow service members and citizens to “wake up” because the leaders of the country are “weak” and only care about their own gain.
Another letter provided more insight into his mindset, stating that the explosion was “not a terrorist attack” and that people only focus on “spectacles and violence.”
Officials also found a six-page “manifesto” on his phone.
In this document, Livelsberger expressed various complaints, including issues with the current government. He mentioned that traumatic memories from his military service replayed in his mind and that he felt he had nothing to live for.
Livelsberger was on approved leave from the military when he rented the Cybertruck and drove from Colorado to Las Vegas. After parking the truck outside the Trump hotel, the fireworks and gasoline inside ignited.
If you or someone you know is struggling, you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or visit 988lifeline.org for support.
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