The use of ChatGPT in the Las Vegas incident on New Year’s Day is a “game-changer,” the authorities have said
The highly decorated US Army Green Beret suspected of staging an explosion outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on New Year’s Day had used generative AI tools, including ChatGPT, to help plan the attack, Las Vegas police have said.
During a news conference on Tuesday, law enforcement officials unveiled new details about the blast. An analysis of queries 37-year-old Matthew Livelsberger had made on ChatGPT revealed that he had sought information about targets of the attack, the velocity of specific ammunition types, and the legality of fireworks.
On January 1, 2025, a Tesla Cybertruck packed with fireworks, gas tanks, and camping fuel exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas. Livelsberger, the driver, was discovered dead inside the vehicle. The blast caused minor injuries to seven people nearby and inflicted minimal damage to the hotel.
“This is the first incident that I’m aware of on US soil where ChatGPT is utilized to help an individual build a particular device,” said Kevin McMahill, the sheriff of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said during a press conference on Tuesday.
He described the use of generative AI as a “game-changer” and “a concerning moment.”
ChatGPT developer OpenAI said it was committed to seeing its tools used “responsibly” and that they’re designed to refuse harmful instructions, the San Francisco-based company told the Associated Press in an emailed statement.
Introduced in 2022, ChatGPT is one of several technologies created by OpenAI. Unlike earlier large language models, the virtual assistant is freely accessible to anyone with an internet connection and is designed to be more intuitive and user-friendly.
Livelsberger reportedly took his own life with a gunshot before triggering the explosion. The investigators are still uncertain exactly what exactly detonated the blast. They said on Tuesday that it could have been the flash from the firearm that Livelsberger used to fatally shoot himself inside the truck.
Las Vegas police made Livelsberger’s letters public on Friday, which revealed the army veteran’s deep frustration with societal issues and his internal struggles. According to officials, he had been battling post-traumatic stress disorder and dealing with personal upheaval, including a recent separation from his wife.
