ChatGPT Used to Plan Cybertruck Explosion in Las Vegas: A First for AI-Assisted Crime in the US

ChatGPT used to orchestrate Cybertruck explosion in first US case

This case raises red flags about the potential for AI to be exploited for criminal purposes. Las Vegas police have revealed that the highly decorated soldier who planned the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump International Hotel on New Year's Day used generative AI, including ChatGPT. This marks the first known case of the AI platform being used to orchestrate an attack on US soil. "This is the first incident that I'm aware of on U.S. soil where ChatGPT is utilized to help an individual build a particular device," said Kevin McMahill, sheriff of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

Las Vegas police say man used ChatGPT to plan Cybertruck explosion outside Trump hotel

In brief: The man who blew up a Tesla Cybertruck outside of a Trump hotel in Las Vegas at the start of the month used ChatGPT to help him plan the attack, Las Vegas police said. OpenAI's tool was instrumental in ensuring the explosion succeeded, offering information on where to source materials and the type of firearm rounds that could ignite them. Active-duty US Army Green Beret Alan Livelsberger, 37, exploded the Cybertruck outside of the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on January 1. In a news conference yesterday, the Las Vegas police department and partners in the ATF and FBI revealed that Livelsberger had asked ChatGPT a series of questions related to his crime over the course of an hour in the days leading up to the blast. Some of the questions Livelsberger asked ChatGPT included where he could source explosives for the blast and what laws he would need to be aware of, where to buy guns in Denver, and the legality of fireworks in Arizona. He also asked how fast a firearm round would need to be fired to ignite the explosives in the truck. Sheriff Kevin McMahill talked about the long-held fears that generative AI could facilitate crimes, calling its use a "game-changer." "We knew that AI was going to change the game at some point or another in all of our lives," said McMahill. "Certainly, I think this is the first incident on US soil where ChatGPT is utilized to help an individual build a particular device to learn information all across the country as they're moving forward." McMahill said he was not aware of anything that would have flagged Livelsberger for asking ChatGPT more than 17 questions about firearms and explosions across a one-hour period. His prompts were written in plain English with no use of terms that could evade ChatGPT's safeguards. Livelsberger fatally shot himself just before the truck, which was loaded with 60 pounds of pyrotechnic material, blew up. Officials say the flash from the firearm that Livelsberger used to fatally shoot himself could have triggered the explosion. Despite the location and the use of a cybertruck, law enforcement officials said Livelsberger was not protesting against Donald Trump. One of the notes he left said the country needed to "rally around" the president-elect and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. A spokesperson for OpenAI said that it was "saddened" by the news its technology was used by Livelsberger in this way. "We are saddened by this incident and committed to seeing AI tools used responsibly," the spokesperson said. "Our models are designed to refuse harmful instructions and minimize harmful content. In this case, ChatGPT responded with information already publicly available on the internet and provided warnings against harmful or illegal activities." In 2023, the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) warned of the ChatGPT's potential applications when it comes to crime. It highlighted the likes of phishing, fraud, disinformation, and general cybercrime, but there are also concerns that the technology, especially those tools with fewer or no safeguards, could be used to create weaponry, bioweapons, and explosives.

Las Vegas Cybertruck Suspect Used ChatGPT to Plan Blast, Police Say

Critics of AI have warned it could be harnessed for harmful purposes The suspected driver of the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on New Year's Day used popular chatbot ChatGPT to plan the blast, officials told reporters on Tuesday. The suspect used ChatGPT to try and work out how much explosive was needed to trigger the blast, officials said. Authorities last week identified the person found dead inside the Cybertruck as Matthew Livelsberger, 37, an active-duty Army soldier from Colorado Springs, and said he acted alone. The FBI says the incident appeared to be a case of suicide. Why Its Important The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said on Tuesday the Cybertruck blast was the first incident on US soil where ChatGPT had been used to build an explosive device. Critics of artificial intelligence have warned it could be harnessed for harmful purposes, and the Las Vegas attack could add to that criticism. Key Quotes "Of particular note, we also have clear evidence in this case now that the suspect used ChatGPT artificial intelligence to help plan his attack," Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department told a press conference. "This is the first incident that I am aware of on U.S. soil where ChatGPT is utilized to help an individual build a particular device," McMahill added. ChatGPT Warnings ChatGPT maker OpenAI said the company was "committed to seeing AI tools used responsibly" and that its "models are designed to refuse harmful instructions." "In this case, ChatGPT responded with information already publicly available on the internet and provided warnings against harmful or illegal activities," the company said in a statement cited by Axios. Context The FBI says there was no definitive link between a truck attack in New Orleans that killed more than a dozen people and the Cybertruck explosion, which left seven with minor injuries. They added the suspect had no animosity towards U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and probably had post-traumatic stress disorder. Livelsberger's phone had a six-page manifesto that authorities were investigating, police said. © Thomson Reuters 2025

Las Vegas Cybertruck Suspect Used ChatGPT to Plan Blast, Police Say

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The suspected driver of the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on New Year's Day used popular chatbot ChatGPT to plan the blast, officials told reporters on Tuesday. The suspect used ChatGPT to try and work out how much explosive was needed to trigger the blast, officials said. Authorities last week identified the person found dead inside the Cybertruck as Matthew Livelsberger, 37, an active-duty Army soldier from Colorado Springs, and said he acted alone. The FBI says the incident appeared to be a case of suicide. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said on Tuesday the Cybertruck blast was the first incident on U.S. soil where ChatGPT had been used to build an explosive device. Critics of artificial intelligence have warned it could be harnessed for harmful purposes, and the Las Vegas attack could add to that criticism. KEY QUOTES "Of particular note, we also have clear evidence in this case now that the suspect used ChatGPT artificial intelligence to help plan his attack," Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department told a press conference. "This is the first incident that I am aware of on U.S. soil where ChatGPT is utilized to help an individual build a particular device," McMahill added. CHATGPT WARNINGS ChatGPT maker OpenAI said the company was "committed to seeing AI tools used responsibly" and that its "models are designed to refuse harmful instructions." "In this case, ChatGPT responded with information already publicly available on the internet and provided warnings against harmful or illegal activities," the company said in a statement cited by Axios. CONTEXT The FBI says there was no definitive link between a truck attack in New Orleans that killed more than a dozen people and the Cybertruck explosion, which left seven with minor injuries. They added the suspect had no animosity towards U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and probably had post-traumatic stress disorder. Livelsberger's phone had a six-page manifesto that authorities were investigating, police said.

ChatGPT was used to plan Cybertruck explosion outside Trump hotel in Las Vegas -- police release details on prompts used to decide crucial details

AI helped figure out how to blow up Cybertruck, says Las Vegas Police The man who exploded a Tesla Cybertruck outside of a Trump hotel on January 1st in Las Vegas used ChatGPT to plan his blast, according to new findings from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. In a recent press conference by the police department and partners in the ATF and FBI, specific prompts submitted to ChatGPT were revealed, along with information that some specific prompts returned information that were crucial in planning the explosion. Matthew Livelsberger, the man who blew up the Cybertruck shortly after killing himself, asked ChatGPT a long list of questions about the plan over one hour in the days leading up to the event. These include questions about sourcing the explosives used in the blast, the effectiveness of the explosives, whether fireworks were legal in Arizona, where to buy guns in Denver, and what kind of gun would be needed to set off the chosen explosives. Most importantly, Assistant Sheriff Dori Koren confirmed that ChatGPT was instrumental in making the blast plan work. ChatGPT returned prompts to Livelsberger which revealed the specific firing speed a firearm would need in order to ignite his chosen explosive. Without ChatGPT, the incident may not have been as explosive as it proved to be, though the ATF also confirmed in the conference that not all explosives detonated as were likely intended to in the initial blast. "We knew that AI was going to change the game at some point or another, in really all of our lives," shared LVMPD Sheriff Kevin McMahill. "This is the first incident that I am aware of on U.S. soil where ChatGPT is utilized to help an individual build a particular device, to learn information all across the country as they're moving forward. Absolutely, it's a concerning moment for us." McMahill was also not aware of any governmental oversight or tracking which would have been able to flag the 17+ prompts asked of ChatGPT, all relating to sourcing and detonating explosives/firearms, submitted within a one hour period. While full info on the ChatGPT prompts has not yet been released by the Las Vegas police, the prompts shown in the press conference were straight-forward and written in simple English, without traditional backdoor terms used to "jailbreak" ChatGPT's content detection system. While this usage of ChatGPT violates OpenAI's Usage Policies and Terms of Use, it is not clear at this time whether safeguards or content warning violations were raised in Livelsberger's use of the LLM. OpenAI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department have not yet responded to requests from the press for further information on the usage of ChatGPT in the event; we will update our coverage as more becomes available.

Las Vegas Cybertruck suspect used ChatGPT to plan blast, police say

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The suspected driver of the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on New Year's Day used popular chatbot ChatGPT to plan the blast, officials told reporters on Tuesday. The suspect used ChatGPT to try and work out how much explosive was needed to trigger the blast, officials said. Authorities last week identified the person found dead inside the Cybertruck as Matthew Livelsberger, 37, an active-duty Army soldier from Colorado Springs, and said he acted alone. The FBI says the incident appeared to be a case of suicide. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said on Tuesday the Cybertruck blast was the first incident on U.S. soil where ChatGPT had been used to build an explosive device. Critics of artificial intelligence have warned it could be harnessed for harmful purposes, and the Las Vegas attack could add to that criticism. KEY QUOTES "Of particular note, we also have clear evidence in this case now that the suspect used ChatGPT artificial intelligence to help plan his attack," Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department told a press conference. "This is the first incident that I am aware of on U.S. soil where ChatGPT is utilized to help an individual build a particular device," McMahill added. CHATGPT WARNINGS ChatGPT maker OpenAI said the company was "committed to seeing AI tools used responsibly" and that its "models are designed to refuse harmful instructions." "In this case, ChatGPT responded with information already publicly available on the internet and provided warnings against harmful or illegal activities," the company said in a statement cited by Axios. CONTEXT The FBI says there was no definitive link between a truck attack in New Orleans that killed more than a dozen people and the Cybertruck explosion, which left seven with minor injuries. They added the suspect had no animosity towards U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and probably had post-traumatic stress disorder. Livelsberger's phone had a six-page manifesto that authorities were investigating, police said.

Tesla Cybertruck bomber used ChatGPT to plan Las Vegas attack, police say

The decorated soldier behind the Tesla Cybertruck bombing outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas last week used the artificial intelligence platform ChatGPT to plan the New Year's Day attack, law enforcement said Tuesday. U.S. Army Special Forces Master Sgt. Matthew Livelsberger looked into the amount of explosives he'd need, where to buy fireworks and how to buy a phone without providing identifying information, Kevin McMahill, sheriff for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, said during a press conference. McMahill called the use of the generative AI a "game changer." "We knew that AI was going to change the game at some point or another in really all of our lives," McMahill said. "This is the first incident that I'm aware of on U.S. soil where ChatGPT is utilized to help an individual build a particular device." A spokesperson for ChatGPT developer OpenAI told CBS News the company is committed to seeing artificial intelligence used responsibly. "Our models are designed to refuse harmful instructions and minimize harmful content. In this case, ChatGPT responded with information already publicly available on the internet and provided warnings against harmful or illegal activities," the OpenAI spokesperson said. "We're working with law enforcement to support their investigation." Las Vegas law enforcement officials and an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives shared other new details during Tuesday's press conference, including new information on what caused the explosion. Police shared video of Livelsberger pouring racing fuel onto the Cybertruck. "You'll see a trail of liquid falling from the back of the vehicle," Las Vegas Assistant Sheriff Dori Koren said. Officials are still working to determine what exactly detonated the explosion, but said it could have been the muzzle flash from the firearm Livelsberger used to fatally shoot himself. Koren said a review of a note on Livelsberger's phone showed that Livelsberger believed people were following him. The note, titled "surveillance" or "surveil," was more of a journal of activities. It included details on Livelsberger's activities leading up to the bombing, including his purchase of guns and picking up the Cybertruck as a rental. The log showed Livelsberger had considered carrying out his plot in Arizona at the Grand Canyon's glass skywalk. Koren said investigators don't know when or why Livelsberger changed his plans. Las Vegas police also said they'd uncovered a six-page document they were reviewing with assistance from the Pentagon. Some of the material in the document may be classified, officials said. McMahill said investigators also still need to recover information from a laptop, a mobile phone and a smartwatch. Last week, the FBI said that investigators had determined the bombing was likely a suicide. The FBI said that information uncovered by federal investigators and the Army found that Livelsberger likely had post-traumatic stress disorder, along with family issues and personal grievances that may have contributed to his actions. An Army spokesperson confirmed to CBS News in a statement that Livelsberger had received counseling through its Preservation of the Force and Family program. Livelsberger did not have a criminal history. He was not on the rader of the FBI or the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department before the explosion, McMahill said. Officials previously said Livelsberger had no animosity toward President-elect Donald Trump.

Driver in Las Vegas Cybertruck explosion used ChatGPT to plan blast, authorities say

The Army soldier who authorities believe blew up a Cybertruck on New Year's Day in front of the entrance of the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas used artificial intelligence to guide him on how to set off the explosion, officials said Tuesday. Matthew Alan Livelsberger, 37, used ChatGPT to query information about how he could put together an explosive, the speed at which a round would need to be fired for the explosives found in the truck to go off -- and not just catch fire -- and the laws he would need to get around to get the materials, law enforcement officials said. "We know AI was going to change the game for all of us at some point or another, in really all of our lives," Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill said. "I think this is the first incident that I'm aware of on U.S. soil where ChatGPT is utilized to help an individual build a particular device." Livelsberger was identified last week by Las Vegas police as the suspect behind the blast. The Clark County coroner determined that he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, police said. Authorities said they were able to identify his badly burned body through various means, including family DNA and tattoos. On Tuesday, law enforcement officials showed video of Livelsberger pulling a can of what they said was racing fuel from the back of the Cybertruck and dousing the vehicle in the area containing explosives. Kenny Cooper, with the ATF San Francisco Field Division, said that Livelsberger's self-inflicted gunshot might have caused the "fuel air explosion" by igniting the fireworks and other explosive materials inside the vehicle. He noted that investigators have not run into any purchase records or physical evidence from the scene that would indicate any type of remote-controlled detonation or sophisticated, timed-initiation system was used. A spokesperson for OpenAI, which owns ChatGPT, said in a statement that the company was "saddened" by the revelation its technology was used to plot the attack. "We are saddened by this incident and committed to seeing AI tools used responsibly," the spokesperson said. "Our models are designed to refuse harmful instructions and minimize harmful content. In this case, ChatGPT responded with information already publicly available on the internet and provided warnings against harmful or illegal activities." The spokesperson added that the company is aiding law enforcement with the investigation. The use of ChatGPT and other AI platforms is a rapidly growing concern for law enforcement officers, who worry about the technology's potential to be used as a how-to-guide for attackers. Law enforcement's challenges with AI were highlighted in an exclusive NBC News report that aired on "Hallie Jackson Now" late last year. "AI takes existing problems and magnifies them. It makes them at scale and at cost," New York Police Department Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence and Counterterrorism Rebecca Weiner previously told NBC News. "The technology makes it easier to do the concerning stuff." When asked Tuesday whether or not law enforcement should have been aware of Livelsberger's queries of ChatGPT, McMahill said he didn't know whether the capability to track how someone uses artificial intelligence exists yet. Las Vegas and New York law enforcement officials previously told NBC News that they don't yet have cooperation from AI services to get alerted when someone starts to query the types of things one would need to conduct an attack or build an explosive. Last week, authorities revealed Livelsberger wrote in an app found in one of two phones in the Cybertruck. He criticized the U.S. government and appeared to acknowledge he purposely blew up the vehicle. Two letters in the phone app suggest a possible motive in the blast, authorities said. In one letter, he told "fellow service members, veterans and all Americans" it's time to "wake up" because the country's leadership is "weak" and "only serves to enrich themselves." A second letter appeared to shed more light on Livelsberger's mentality. In that letter, Livelsberger said the explosion was "not a terrorist attack" and said Americans only pay attentions to "spectacles and violence." An additional, six-page "manifesto" was found on his phone, officials said Tuesday. In the document, Livelsberger laid out various grievances, including problems with the "current administration," officials said. He also wrote that he had graphic encounters from his military experiences that replayed in his head in a loop, and that he had nothing to live for, officials said. Livelsberger was on approved leave from the military when he rented the Tesla Cybertruck and drove from Colorado to Las Vegas, according to law enforcement officials. Fireworks and gas in the bed of that truck would later ignite after he parked it just outside of the Trump hotel's entrance.

Man who exploded Tesla Cybertruck outside Trump hotel in Las Vegas used generative AI to plan explosion, police say

Matthew Livelsberger, a decorated soldier, used ChatGPT to help plan an explosion outside the Trump hotel in Las Vegas. The intention was not to harm others, but a stunt to address personal and societal issues. The incident, which resulted in minimal injuries, highlights growing concerns about the misuse of AI in planning harmful activities.The highly decorated soldier who exploded a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump hotel in Las Vegas used generative AI including ChatGPT to help plan the attack, Las Vegas police said Tuesday. Nearly a week after 37-year-old Matthew Livelsberger fatally shot himself, officials said according to writings, he didn't intend to kill anyone else. An investigation of Livelsberger's searches through ChatGPT indicate he was looking for information on explosive targets, the speed at which certain rounds of ammunition would travel and whether fireworks were legal in Arizona. Kevin McMahill, sheriff of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, called the use of generative AI a "game-changer" and said the department was sharing information with other law enforcement agencies. "This is the first incident that I'm aware of on U.S. soil where ChatGPT is utilized to help an individual build a particular device," he said. "It's a concerning moment." In an emailed statement, OpenAI said it was committed to seeing its tools used "responsibly" and that they're designed to refuse harmful instructions. "In this case, ChatGPT responded with information already publicly available on the internet and provided warnings against harmful or illegal activities. We're working with law enforcement to support their investigation," the emailed statement said. Launched in 2022, ChatGPT is part of a broader set of technologies developed by the San Francisco-based startup OpenAI. Unlike previous iterations of so-called "large language models," the ChatGPT tool is available for free to anyone with an internet connection and designed to be more user-friendly. During a roughly half-hour-long news conference, Las Vegas police and federal law enforcement officials unveiled new details about the New Year's Day explosion. Among the specifics law enforcement disclosed: Livelsberger stopped during the drive to Las Vegas to pour racing-grade fuel into the Cybertruck, which then dripped the substance. The vehicle was loaded with 60 pounds (27 kilograms) of pyrotechnic material as well as 70 pounds (32 kilograms) of birdshot but officials are still uncertain exactly what detonated the explosion. They said Tuesday it could have been the flash from the firearm that Livelsberger used to fatally shoot himself. Authorities also said they uncovered a six-page document that they have not yet released because they're working with Defense Department officials since some of the material could be classified. They added that they still have to review contents on a laptop, mobile phone and smartwatch. Among the items released was a journal Livelsberger kept titled "surveillance" or "surveil" log. It showed that he believed he was being tracked by law enforcement, but he had no criminal record and was not on the police department's of FBI's "radar," the sheriff said Tuesday. The log showed that he considered carrying out his plans in Arizona at the Grand Canyon's glass skywalk, a tourist attraction on tribal land that towers high above the canyon floor. Assistant Sheriff Dori Koren said police don't know why he changed his plans. The writings also showed he worried he would be labeled a terrorist and that people would think he intended to kill others besides himself, officials said. Once stopped outside the hotel, video showed a flash in the vehicle that they said they believed was from the muzzle of the firearm Livelsberger used to shoot himself. Soon after that flash, video showed fire engulfing the truck's cabin and even escaping the seam of the door, the result of considerable fuel vapor, officials said. An explosion followed. Livelsberger, an Army Green Beret who deployed twice to Afghanistan and lived in Colorado Springs, Colorado, left notes saying the explosion was a stunt meant to be a " wake up call " for the nation's troubles, officials said last week. He left cellphone notes saying he needed to "cleanse" his mind "of the brothers I've lost and relieve myself of the burden of the lives I took." The explosion caused minor injuries to seven people but virtually no damage to the Trump International Hotel. Authorities said that Livelsberger acted alone. Livelsberger's letters touched on political grievances, societal problems and domestic and international issues, including the war in Ukraine. He wrote that the U.S. was "terminally ill and headed toward collapse." Investigators had been trying to determine if Livelsberger wanted to make a political point, given the Tesla and the hotel bearing the president-elect's name. Livelsberger harbored no ill will toward President-elect Donald Trump, law enforcement officials said. In one of the notes he left, he said the country needed to "rally around" him and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

Man used ChatGPT to plan Las Vegas Cybertruck blast

The man killed in the Las Vegas Cybertruck blast used ChatGPT to plan the explosion, police said. In a press conference, Tuesday, Las Vegas police released more details of the intentions of 37-year-old Matthew Livelsberger, who died of a gunshot wound prior to the car exploding. Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill said it was concerning that Livelsberger used ChatGPT, a popular artificial intelligence model created by OpenAI, to carry out the explosion. According to police, Livelsberger asked ChatGPT various questions, including where the largest gun stores in Denver were, information about the explosive targets Tannerite and pistols. "We knew that AI was going to change the game at some point or another in really all of our lives and certainly, I think this is the first incidence that I'm aware of on U.S. soil where ChatGPT is utilized to help an individual build a particular device, to learn information all across the country as they're moving forward," McMahill said. "And so, absolutely, it's a concerning moment for us," he continued. Police also released excerpts of a six-page manifesto Livelsberger wrote. In it, he made various points about "political and social and cultural issues" and criticisms of the Biden administration and Democratic Party. He detailed how traveling for the planned explosion would be challenging with Tesla's charging stations and drug and alcohol use in the days leading up to it. Livelsberger also wrote about his service in the Army in Afghanistan and how he was living with graphic encounters in his mind. "I am now a shell of a human being with nothing to live for, it has all been taken away by my affiliations," he wrote. Police said Livelsberger had no intention of killing another person, but the fireworks and explosives in the truck were meant to cause a public spectacle. Seven other people were injured in the blast on New Year's Day. Police are still working through the investigation and say they do not know yet why Livelsberger decided to have the explosion happen at President-elect Trump's hotel in Las Vegas. The Hill has reached out to OpenAI, ChatGPT's parent company, for comment.

Las Vegas Cybertruck explosion suspect used ChatGPT to plan attack: Police

Matthew Livelsberger, an active-duty Army soldier, was killed in the incident. Matthew Livelsberger used ChatGPT to help plot the Tesla Cybertruck explosion outside the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas on New Year's Day, authorities revealed on Tuesday. Police have "clear evidence" that Livelsberger used the generative artificial intelligence tool to "help plan his attack," Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department told reporters during a press briefing on Tuesday. Livelsberger, an active-duty Army soldier who authorities said died by suicide in the incident, asked questions about explosives and what would set off certain types of explosives, police said. McMahill said he believes this is the first case on U.S. soil in which ChatGPT/AI helped a suspect build a device, calling it a "concerning moment" and a "game changer." He added it is also "instructive" for other law enforcement agencies and is releasing information where they can in the case. ABC News has reached out to OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, for comment. Through ChatGPT, the suspect looked at "trying to figure out the amount of explosives needed in order to conduct the explosion he was looking to cause," Las Vegas Assistant Sheriff Dori Koren said during the press briefing. He also used it to try to figure out where to buy fireworks, how much and how they compare to other explosive materials, Koren said. An "important component" of his inquiries involved the velocity of the bullet fired from the firearm and "determining whether that would ignite the explosives," Koren said. Livelsberger, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound just prior to the blast, according to the Clark County coroner. Two firearms -- one handgun and one rifle -- were found in the vehicle, police said. The Cybertruck had over 60 pounds of pyrotechnics, and 20 gallons of fuel were poured over the fireworks and explosive material in the back of the truck, according to Kenny Cooper, assistant special agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' San Francisco field division. Investigators believe the muzzle flash alone could have been an ignition source for the fuel-air explosion, though several other possible sources have not been ruled out, he said. Police said Tuesday they have also recovered a six-page document on a phone found in the Cybertruck that showed a "variance of grievances and a constant evolution of his plans or intents of what he wanted to do," Koren said. In the document, the suspect was critical of the Biden administration and talked about having graphic memories of his time in battle and losing his teammates, according to Koren. He also mentioned being "super high on weed and drinking," which investigators are still working to confirm, Koren said. The document also showed his mental health struggles, which "builds upon that potential PTSD that we're referring to," Koren said. "He does transition at some point, and talks about being concerned of the media labeling them as a terrorist and that he had no intent on killing anyone else besides from himself," Koren said. Livelsberger's writings indicate he had considered planning to set off the explosion at the glass walkway at the Grand Canyon but changed his mind, for whatever reason, to the Trump Hotel, police said. "He does talk about his intent to make this as public as possible," Koren said. Police believe parts of the document may be classified and are working with the Department of Defense to understand if it can all be released. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department last week released two additional letters found on a cellphone retrieved from the Cybertruck. In the letters, Livelsberger said the country was being led by the "weak" and those out to "enrich themselves," while also claiming the incident was not meant as a terrorist attack but a "wake-up call." In one of the letters police say were found on his phone, Livelsberger expressed support for Donald Trump and the president-elect's allies, Elon Musk and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He also expressed disdain for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and income inequality and expressed a concern about homelessness, according to the letters. Livelsberger also sent an email shared by the military-themed "Shawn Ryan Show" podcast on Friday, authorities confirmed on Tuesday. That information was sent to the FBI following the attack, federal officials said. The evidence shows Livelsberger "thoughtfully prepared" and acted alone in the incident, federal authorities said. He was not on the FBI's radar prior to the attack, authorities said. No one else was seriously hurt, though seven bystanders sustained minor injuries, officials said. Livelsberger served as a Green Beret in the Army and was on approved leave from serving in Germany at the time of his death, a U.S. Army spokesperson said Thursday. He received extensive decorations in combat, including the Bronze Star with a "V" device for valor, indicating heroism under fire. Livelsberger received four more standard Bronze Star medals, according to Army records. He also earned the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three stars. Each star represents service in a separate campaign in Afghanistan. Livelsberger had been receiving mental health assistance over the last year, a U.S. official confirmed Friday. Another U.S. official confirmed that officials thought Livelsberger was stable enough to go home for Christmas and his leave was approved. His wife, who investigators spoke to in Colorado Springs, said he had been out of the house since around Christmas after a dispute over allegations of infidelity, the official said. His wife told officials she did not believe Livelsberger would want to hurt anyone, the official told ABC News.

Before Las Vegas, Intel Analysts Warned That Bomb Makers Were Turning to AI

Authorities say that before a Green Beret blew up a Cybertruck in front of the Trump International Hotel, he consulted ChatGPT -- exactly the scenario police have been warned of for the past year. Using a series of prompts six days before he died by suicide outside the main entrance of the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, Matthew Livelsberger, a highly decorated US Army Green Beret from Colorado, consulted with an artificial intelligence on the best ways to turn a rented Cybertruck into a four-ton vehicle-borne explosive. According to documents obtained exclusively by WIRED, US intelligence analysts have been issuing warnings about this precise scenario over the past year -- and among their concerns are that AI tools could be used by racially or ideologically motivated extremists to target critical infrastructure, in particular the power grid. "We knew that AI was going to change the game at some point or another in, really, all of our lives," Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department told reporters on Tuesday. "Absolutely, it's a concerning moment for us." Copies of his exchanges with OpenAI's ChatGPT show that Livelsberger, 37, pursued information on how to amass as much explosive material as he legally could while en route to Las Vegas, as well as how best to set it off using the Desert Eagle gun discovered in the Cybertruck following his death. Screenshots shared by McMahill's office reveal Livelsberger prompting ChatGPT for information on Tannerite, a reactive compound typically used for target practice. In one such prompt, Livelsberger asks, "How much Tannerite is equivalent to 1 pound of TNT?" He follows up by asking how it might be ignited at "point blank range." The documents obtained by WIRED show that concerns about the threat of AI being used to help commit serious crimes, including terrorism, have been circulating among US law enforcement. They reveal that the Department of Homeland Security has persistently issued warnings about domestic extremists who are relying on the technology to "generate bomb making instructions" and develop "general tactics for conducting attacks against the United States." The memos, which are not classified but are restricted to government personnel, state that violent extremists are increasingly turning to tools like ChatGPT to help stage attacks aimed at collapsing American society through acts of domestic terror. According to notes investigators found on his phone, Livelsberger intended the bombing as a "wake-up call" to Americans, whom he urged to reject diversity, embrace masculinity, and rally around President-elect Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He also urged Americans to purge Democrats from the federal government and the military, calling for a "hard reset." While McMahill contended Tuesday that the incident in Las Vegas may be the first "on US soil where ChatGPT was utilized to help an individual build a particular device," federal intelligence analysts say extremists associated with white supremacist and accelerationist movements online are now frequently sharing access to hacked versions of AI chatbots in an effort to construct bombs with an eye to carrying out attacks against law enforcement, government facilities, and critical infrastructure. In particular, the memos highlight the vulnerability of the US power grid, a popular target among extremists populating "Terrorgram," a loose network of encrypted chatrooms that host a range of violent, racially-motivated individuals bent on the destruction of American democratic institutions. The documents, shared exclusively with WIRED, were first obtained by Property of the People, a nonprofit focused on national security and government transparency.

Soldier who exploded Tesla outside Trump hotel used ChatGPT - police

The man who exploded a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump hotel in Las Vegas used generative AI, police say. The soldier who exploded a Tesla Cybertruck outside a Trump hotel in Las Vegas used generative artificial intelligence (AI) to help plan the attack, according to police. Nearly a week after 37-year-old Matthew Livelsberger fatally shot himself, officials said according to writings, he didn't intend to kill anyone else. An investigation of Livelsberger's searches through ChatGPT indicated he was looking for information on explosive targets, the speed at which certain rounds of ammunition would travel, and whether fireworks were legal in Arizona. Kevin McMahill, sheriff of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, called the use of generative AI a "game-changer" and said the department was sharing information with other law enforcement agencies. "This is the first incident that I'm aware of on US soil where ChatGPT is utilised to help an individual build a particular device," he said. "It's a concerning moment". In an emailed statement, OpenAI said it was committed to seeing its tools used "responsibly" and that they're designed to refuse harmful instructions. "In this case, ChatGPT responded with information already publicly available on the internet and provided warnings against harmful or illegal activities. We're working with law enforcement to support their investigation," the emailed statement said. Launched in 2022, ChatGPT is part of a broader set of technologies developed by the San Francisco-based startup OpenAI. Unlike previous iterations of so-called "large language models," the ChatGPT tool is available for free to anyone with an internet connection and is designed to be more user-friendly. The explosion in Las Vegas caused minor injuries to seven people but virtually no damage to the Trump International Hotel. Authorities said that Livelsberger acted alone. Livelsberger's letters touched on political grievances, societal problems and domestic and international issues, including the war in Ukraine. He wrote that the US was "terminally ill and headed toward collapse". Investigators had been trying to determine if Livelsberger wanted to make a political point, given the Tesla and the hotel bearing the president-elect's name. Livelsberger harboured no ill will toward US President-elect Donald Trump, law enforcement officials said. In one of the notes he left, he said the country needed to "rally around" him and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

Soldier who exploded Cybertruck in Las Vegas used ChatGPT to plan attack

Deployed twice to Afghanistan, the Green Beret searched the AI platform for information on explosives and ammo The soldier who exploded a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump hotel in Las Vegas used generative AI including ChatGPT to help plan the attack, Las Vegas police said Tuesday. A laptop, cellphone and watch are still under review nearly a week after 37-year-old Matthew Livelsberger fatally shot himself just before the truck blew up. A review of Livelsberger's searches through ChatGPT indicate he was looking for information on explosive targets, the speed at which certain rounds of ammunition would travel and whether fireworks were legal in Arizona. Livelsberger, an army Green Beret who deployed twice to Afghanistan and lived in Colorado Springs, Colorado, left notes saying the explosion was a stunt meant to be a "wake up call" for the nation's troubles, officials said last week. He left cellphone notes saying he needed to "cleanse" his mind "of the brothers I've lost and relieve myself of the burden of the lives I took". The explosion caused minor injuries to seven people but virtually no damage to the Trump International hotel. Authorities said that Livelsberger acted alone. Livelsberger's letters touched on political grievances, societal problems and domestic and international issues, including the war in Ukraine. He wrote that the US was "terminally ill and headed toward collapse". Investigators had been trying to determine if Livelsberger wanted to make a political point, given the Tesla and the hotel bearing the president-elect's name. Livelsberger harbored no ill will toward president-elect Donald Trump, law enforcement officials said. In one of the notes he left, he said the country needed to "rally around" him and the Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

Man Behind Tesla Cybertruck Blast Outside Trump Hotel Used ChatGPT For Planning, Says Las Vegas Police - Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA)

A Tesla Inc. TSLA Cybertruck explosion outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on New Year's Day has been linked to the use of ChatGPT for planning. What Happened: The driver of a Tesla Cybertruck that detonated outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on New Year's Day used ChatGPT to orchestrate the explosion. Authorities revealed this information on Tuesday, according to Reuters. The suspect, identified as Matthew Livelsberger, a 37-year-old active-duty Army soldier from Colorado Springs, was found deceased inside the vehicle. Officials stated he acted independently, and the FBI classified the event as a suicide. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department noted this incident as the first in the U.S. where ChatGPT was employed to construct an explosive device. Sheriff Kevin McMahill emphasized the significance of the case, highlighting the use of ChatGPT in planning the attack. Meanwhile, OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, asserted their commitment to responsible AI usage, explaining that their models are programmed to reject harmful instructions. They stated that ChatGPT provided only publicly accessible information and cautioned against illegal activities. OpenAi did not immediately respond to Benzinga's request for comment. The FBI found no connection between this explosion and a prior truck attack in New Orleans. Livelsberger reportedly had no hostility towards President-elect Donald Trump, but authorities are investigating a six-page manifesto found on his phone. Why It Matters: The incident has raised significant concerns about the potential misuse of AI technologies like ChatGPT. The explosion, initially suspected to be a suicide, was confirmed by authorities after a firearm was found at the scene. The event has also spotlighted Tesla and its data collection capabilities, which played a crucial role in the investigation. This has also sparked a debate on privacy rights, with experts questioning the extent of surveillance by automobile companies, as noted by Jodi Daniels, CEO of Red Clover Advisors. The incident underscores the need for a balance between technological advancements and privacy concerns. Read Also: xAI's Grok Chatbot To Be Integrated Into Tesla Vehicles 'Soon,' Says Elon Musk Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Image via Tesla Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

Suspect in Trump Hotel Cybertruck Explosion Used AI to Plan Attack, Police Say

The highly decorated soldier who exploded a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump hotel in Las Vegas used generative AI including ChatGPT to help plan the attack, Las Vegas police said Tuesday. Nearly a week after 37-year-old Matthew Livelsberger fatally shot himself, officials said according to writings, he didn't intend to kill anyone else.

Soldier who exploded Tesla Cybertruck outside Trump hotel 'used generative AI to plan attack'

Police in Las Vegas say they have reviewed Matthew Livelsberger's AI searches prior to the explosion outside Trump's hotel on New Year's Day. A soldier who exploded a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump hotel in Las Vegas used generative AI - including ChatGPT - to help plan the attack, police have said. Matthew Livelsberger, 37, a US Army Green Beret, fatally shot himself just before the truck blew up outside the hotel on New Year's Day. Police in Las Vegas say they have now reviewed Livelsberger's ChatGPT searches prior to the explosion. According to officers, the searches indicate he was looking for information on explosive targets, the speed at which certain rounds of ammunition would travel, and whether fireworks were legal in Arizona. Kevin McMahill, sheriff of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, called Livelsberger's use of generative AI in planning the attack a "game changer". "This is the first incident that I'm aware of on US soil where ChatGPT is utilised to help an individual build a particular device," he said. "It's a concerning moment." Officials said last week that Livelsberger left notes in which he labelled the explosion as a stunt which he hoped would be a "wake-up call" for a nation he said was "terminally ill and heading towards collapse". Read more from Sky News: Trump refuses to rule out force over Panama Canal and Greenland Trump asks court to dismiss hush money conviction The notes touched on political grievances, societal problems and domestic and international issues, including the war in Ukraine. However, according to officials, Livelsberger harboured no ill will toward president-elect Donald Trump and in one of the notes he left, he said the country needed to "rally around" him and Tesla boss Elon Musk. He also left mobile phone notes saying he needed to "cleanse" his mind "of the brothers I've lost and relieve myself of the burden of the lives I took". The FBI said Livelsberger, who had served in the army since 2006 and was deployed twice to Afghanistan, likely suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and that there were "potential other family issues or personal grievances in his own life" that may have been "contributing factors". Authorities said that Livelsberger, from Colorado Springs, Colorado, acted alone and that the incident appeared likely to be a "tragic case of suicide". The explosion caused minor injuries to seven people but virtually no damage to the Trump International Hotel.

How Criminals Used ChatGPT and Meta AI to Plan Terror Attacks on US Soil - Decrypt

Recent attacks in Las Vegas and New Orleans show how AI tools are being used by terrorists. The attacks -- one involving ChatGPT's language and reasoning capabilities, the other exploiting Meta's smart glasses technology -- are raising questions about how to strengthen protective measures while preserving AI's beneficial applications. Authorities say that U.S. Army Special Forces Master Sgt. Matthew Livelsberger -- a decorated Green Beret who had shown signs of PTSD -- methodically employed ChatGPT to research crucial elements of his Tesla Cybertruck attack outside Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on January 1. According to Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill, Livelsberger's interaction with the AI platform extended far beyond casual queries. The 37-year-old soldier used ChatGPT to calculate precise explosive quantities, research firework procurement channels, and explore methods for purchasing phones without leaving digital traces. "We knew that AI was going to change the game at some point or another in really all of our lives," McMahill said. "This is the first incident that I'm aware of on U.S. soil where ChatGPT is utilized to help an individual build a particular device." The incident culminated in Livelsberger pouring racing fuel over the rented Cybertruck before taking his own life, with investigators suggesting the muzzle flash from his firearm may have triggered the explosion. Seven people were injured, though the hotel structure remained largely undamaged and the incident didn't claim any lives beyond the perpetrator's own. The same day as the first incident, 42-year-old U.S. Army veteran Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove a rented pickup truck into a crowd during the new year celebration. Prior the incident, Jabbar used Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses, powered by Meta AI, to conduct detailed reconnaissance of his target area. FBI investigations revealed that Jabbar made two visits to New Orleans' French Quarter -- on October 30 and November 10 -- during which he used the smart glasses to capture extensive footage of Bourbon Street. The glasses allowed him to record video and photos hands-free while cycling through the area. FBI Special Agent Lyonel Myrthil detailed how Jabbar methodically recorded the street layout, repeatedly scanning left to right to capture comprehensive viewpoints. The FBI published one of the videos recorded by Jabbar: The attack itself claimed 14 lives and left 35 injured, including two police officers, when Jabbar drove a pickup truck through New Year's crowds at 3am. Though he wore the Meta glasses during the attack, he did not activate them for recording or livestreaming. Recovered footage showed Jabbar testing the glasses' capabilities, examining his reflection and ensuring optimal recording angles. Counterterrorism expert Sam Hunter emphasized the tactical advantage such technology provided. "You're really getting a sense of the eyeline and eyesight, and all the things that you're going to want to look out for if you're trying to plan an attack," Hunter said in a statement shared with NBC. "I would not be surprised if you see versions of them or folks using them for attack planning in the future, again because they're so discreet in terms of capturing that footage," Tech companies and regulators have been working to strengthen safeguards while preserving AI's beneficial applications. OpenAI emphasized that ChatGPT incorporates specific protections against harmful instructions, and provides explicit warnings about illegal activities. The company said that it has fully cooperated with law enforcement investigations, while simultaneously working to enhance its safety protocols. "Real-world use has also led us to develop increasingly nuanced policies against behavior that represents a genuine risk to people, while still allowing for the many beneficial uses of our technology," OpenAI said in an official blog post. That said, as Decrypt has reported, simple jailbreaking techniques have proven effective when applied against these models: Basic methods like writing in leetspeak or using continuous roleplay can be enough to obtain illegal content and bypass such restrictions. The company has not released a statement regarding the use of its tools by Sgt. Matthew Livelsberger for his terrorist attacks. Meta, facing scrutiny over its smart glasses' potential for misuse ever since their release, has acknowledged the need to balance innovation with security concerns. The glasses' recording indicator light, while present, has been criticized as being too subtle. Questioned about the terrorist attacks, a Meta spokesperson told NBC that the company is actively "in touch with law enforcement on this matter."

Inflection point: ChatGPT was used to plan Las Vegas Cybertruck explosion - SiliconANGLE

Inflection point: ChatGPT was used to plan Las Vegas Cybertruck explosion Throughout the history of humanity, every new invention, despite the best intentions, often ends up being used for wrongdoing. And when new inventions are used that way, those inventions often hit an inflection point. 2025 started with a Tesla Inc. Cybertruck filled with fireworks, gas canisters and camping fuel exploding outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas and the man behind the explosion, Matthew Livelsberger, used generative artificial intelligence tools, specifically ChatGPT, to plan the attack. Las Vegas police said Tuesday that Livelsberger used ChatGPT to help plan the attack, including identifying information on explosive targets, the speed at which certain rounds of ammunition would travel and whether fireworks were legal in Arizona. The Associated Press quotes Kevin McMahill, sheriff of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, calling the use of generative AI in the attack a "game-changer" and said the department was sharing information with other law enforcement agencies. "This is the first incident that I'm aware of on U.S. soil where ChatGPT is utilized to help an individual build a particular device," McMahill said. "It's a concerning moment." What exactly Livelsberger's motive for undertaking the attack is still not entirely clear. Authorities have a six-page document that has not been released; however, there is no shortage of conspiracies on social media, including that Livelsberger was aiming to highlight issues around the drone sightings in New Jersey. Whatever his reason was behind the attack, the world, let alone ChatGPT, just hit an inflection point - AI is now being used to plan attacks. From the beginning of the industrial revolution through to today, new technology has often been branded as being evil or bad for society. With the high likelihood that that AI agents will replace real workers through 2025, AI sits in a prime position to be the technological bogeyman. But every technology goes through this point. The Cybertruck bomber could have used Google LLC instead of ChatGPT to do his research, not so much easily given how awful Google Search has become, but in theory, he could have. If he had used Google search, no one would blame Google for him doing so, and likewise, no blame should be levied on OpenAI and ChatGPT. That the bomber used ChatGPT could also be an inflection point in terms of broader usage of AI versus Google as well. Google's Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai told Google employees at a strategy meeting in late December that he was concerned that ChatGPT may become synonymous with AI in the way Google is to search. He was right to be concerned not just because ChatGPT is becoming synonymous with AI but because it is replacing Google - even bombers do research now on ChatGPT over Google. The point at which ChatGPT replaces Google search is well underway.