A Tesla Cybertruck used in a terrorist attack outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas was planned with the help of a generative AI, including ChatGPT, according to police. The bombshell discovery came nearly a week after the 37-year-old soldier, identified as Matthew Livelsberger, fatally shot himself just before the truck blew up.
Livelsberger, an Army Green Beret who had deployed twice to Afghanistan, used ChatGPT to search for information on explosive targets, ammunition speed, and whether fireworks were legal in Arizona. He also left notes saying the explosion was a stunt meant to be a “wake up call” for the nation’s troubles.
A review of Livelsberger’s searches through ChatGPT indicates he was planning the attack and using the AI to gather information. An OpenAI spokesperson said that the company is committed to seeing AI tools used responsibly and that their models are designed to refuse harmful instructions and minimize harmful content.
The Tesla Cybertruck was driven up to the hotel and exploded, causing damage and panic. Surveillance footage showed the vehicle bursting into flames, sending shards of glass and metal flying, and loud bangs can be heard throughout the short video. The body was too burned to be identified visually, but police believe they have identified the victim through his tattoos and are awaiting DNA confirmation.
The investigation is ongoing, with police raiding Livelsberger’s home and finding a passport, iPhone, and more firearms. The family of the deceased has been left bewildered by the actions of their loved one, who described him as a “patriot” and “supersoldier”.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk commented on the incident, saying that his team has “never seen anything like this” happen to a Tesla and that the explosion was caused by “very large fireworks and/or a bomb”.