Las Vegas authorities discovered that the decorated military man Matthew Livelsberger, who carried out the assault, had used conceptual AI, including ChatGPT, to plan legal deeds almost a week after the New Year’s Day blast outside the Trump International Hotel.
Police in Las Vegas discovered that his writings indicated that he had no intention of causing harm to others. However, his use of AI tools to gather data for the attack is a troubling first.
Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department described the use of generative AI as a “game-changer.”
” This is the first incident I’m aware of on US soil where ChatGPT was used to aid in the creation of a particular device,” McMahill said in a press conference.
An investigation into Livelsberger’s ChatGPT search history revealed that he had sought information on explosive targets, ammunition speed, and the legality of fireworks in Arizona.
OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, responded to the incident in a statement, asserting its commitment to responsible AI use. ChatGPT cautioned against harmful or illegal activities by providing only publicly available information. We are cooperating with law enforcement to support their investigation”, the statement read.
Livelsberger’s writings and actions suggest the explosion was intended as a dramatic “wake-up call” for what he perceived as the nation’s societal and political troubles. He believed he was being watched by law enforcement despite having no criminal record or FBI tracking, according to a journal called” Surveillance Log” that investigators recovered. He insisted that he had no desire to harm others and that he had no intention of harming others in his notes. He expressed his concerns about being labeled a terrorist.
During his drive to Las Vegas, Livelsberger stopped to refuel the Cybertruck with racing-grade fuel, which later dripped from the vehicle. The truck, which was loaded with 70 pounds of birdshot and 60 pounds of pyrotechnic material, exploded after a flash thought to be the one used to end his life ignited the fuel vapor.
In the explosion, only seven people suffered minor injuries, but the Trump hotel was left with little to no damage.
Law enforcement also disclosed the existence of a six-page document in Livelsberger’s possession, which has not been made public as it may contain classified material. Investigators are still reviewing a laptop, smartphone, and smartwatch found at the scene.
Livelsberger had reportedly considered alternative targets, including the Grand Canyon’s glass skywalk, but changed his plans for reasons yet unknown. His letters addressed complex political and societal grievances, including those relating to the Ukraine war and the perceived US decline.
In one note, Livelsberger urged Americans to “rally around” President-elect Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, emphasising that he bore no ill will toward Trump. Instead, he described his act as a means to” cleanse” his mind of the burdens of war and the lives he had taken.
