How Tesla Cybertruck Explosion Suspect Used ChatGPT to Plan Attack

Since the current wave of generative artificial intelligence began with the launch of ChatGPT at the end of 2022, one of the concerns is that its versatility can be used for malicious purposes. We usually talk about that catch-all that is often called disinformation, as well as cybercrimes, but there are also crimes that occur outside of a computer screen. The explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck, last New Year’s Day, parked at the entrance of the Trump Hotel Las Vegasis one of those cases, as revealed by the Police.

The sequence of events was as follows. On December 31, Sgt. Matthew Livelsbergeractive member of the United States Army Special Forcesrented a Tesla Cybertruck in Colorado and drove to Las Vegas. On January 1, at 7:30 a.m., he arrived in Las Vegas with the Cybertruck equipped with a detonation system that included fireworks, gas and fuel tanks. An hour later, he parked the Tesla vehicle at the entrance of the Trump International Hotel and exploded, after Livelsberger took his own life by shooting himself in the head.

US authorities have confirmed that the suspect had a ‘possible manifesto’ saved on his phone, as well as an email addressed to a podcaster and other letters. They also showed video evidence of Livelsberger pouring fuel on the Cybertruck while it was stoppedbefore driving to the hotel. In addition, he had a record of alleged surveillance by the authorities, although the Police have indicated that he had no criminal record nor was he being monitored or investigated.

How does ChatGPT fit into this strange occurrence? The Las Vegas Police have shown a series of images with records of questions asked by Livelsberger to ChatGPT in relation to the attack, a few days before the explosion. He consulted OpenAI’s AI to find out the amount of explosives needed to carry it out, how to detonate them, how to do it by shooting, where to buy a phone without providing personally identifiable information, as well as weapons, explosive material and fireworks, legally, in his journey from Colorado to Las Vegas.

Regarding this use of ChatGPT, Liz Bourgeois, spokesperson for OpenAI, told CBS News that ‘we are saddened by this incident and are committed to ensuring that AI tools are used responsibly. Our models are designed to reject harmful instructions and minimize harmful content. In this case, ChatGPT responded with information that is already publicly available on the Internet and offered warnings against harmful or illegal activities.. ‘We are collaborating with the authorities to support their investigation.’

The authorities claim that They continue to investigate possible origins of the explosion which they describe as a ‘deflagration’ that spread slowly, as opposed to a high explosive detonation, which would have spread faster and caused greater damage. Although researchers indicate that still They do not rule out other possibilities such as an electrical short circuit.