Exploded Cybertruck in Las Vegas: Man behind the wheel used ChatGPT for planning

The man responsible for the explosion on a Tesla Cybertruck outside Donald Trump's hotel in Las Vegas used AI text generators such as ChatGPT for the preparation. This was discovered by the local police and has now been made public, reports the AP news agency. According to the sheriff of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, he used it to search for information on explosions, the rate at which certain ammunition was released and the legal situation regarding fireworks in the US state of Arizona, among other things. He described the use of AI as "groundbreaking" (literally "game changer") and said that other police departments were being informed about this.

"Worrying moment"

The incident is the first in which ChatGPT has been used in the US "to help an individual build a specific device", AP quotes the sheriff as saying. "It's a troubling moment." He added that the man had loaded almost 60 kilograms of pyrotechnics and ammunition onto the cybertruck. What exactly caused them to explode is unclear. It is possible that the shot ignited the material with which the man shot himself. According to a document he had previously written, he did not intend to kill anyone. He also had nothing against Donald Trump (in front of whose hotel the car exploded) or Elon Musk. On the contrary, he had advocated supporting both of them.

The AI company responsible for ChatGPT, OpenAI, assured AP that it is committed to ensuring that its own tools are used "responsibly". They have been developed in such a way that they reject harmful instructions. In this specific case, the text generator merely provided information that was publicly available on the internet and warned of harmful or illegal activities. "We are cooperating with the law enforcement authorities to support their investigations," OpenAI continued.

The investigation relates to the case of a Tesla Cybertruck that was driven in front of the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas a week ago and detonated there. The man responsible at the wheel killed himself beforehand and was then burned beyond recognition in the car. Although the case has attracted much attention in the US and internationally, "it ultimately appears to be a tragic suicide of a highly decorated war veteran who was struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder and other issues," the FBI had stated over the weekend. The man was a member of the US elite Green Berets unit.

Note: In Germany, you can find help and support for problems of all kinds, including questions about bullying and suicide, at telefonseelsorge.de and by calling 0800 1110111. The number against grief (children's and youth helpline) is 116 111. In Austria, there are also free help services, including the children's helpline on 0800 567 567 and Rat auf Draht on 147, especially for children. The same telephone number in Switzerland leads to Pro Juventute.

(mho)