Las Vegas police reported Tuesday that the highly decorated soldier who perpetrated the attack used generative AI, including ChatGPT, in his planning.
Authorities stated that, according to his writings, 37-year-old Matthew Livelsberger, who died by suicide nearly a week prior, did not intend to harm others.
An examination of Livelsberger’s ChatGPT searches revealed inquiries about explosive targets, ammunition velocity, and Arizona fireworks regulations.
Kevin McMahill, sheriff of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, termed the AI usage a “game-changer,” pledging information sharing with other agencies.
He described the incident as “a concerning moment,” noting it as the first known U.S. case of ChatGPT aiding device construction.
OpenAI, in an emailed statement, affirmed its commitment to responsible tool usage and its design to reject harmful instructions.
The statement explained that ChatGPT provided publicly available information, included warnings against harmful actions, and that OpenAI is cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
Launched in 2022, ChatGPT, a product of San Francisco-based OpenAI, boasts enhanced user-friendliness compared to previous “large language models” and is freely accessible online.
During a press conference, law enforcement officials detailed the New Year’s Day explosion.
Details included Livelsberger adding racing fuel to his Cybertruck en route, causing spillage. The truck contained 60 pounds (27 kilograms) of pyrotechnics and 70 pounds (32 kilograms) of birdshot; however, the exact cause of detonation remains uncertain, possibly the firearm used in his suicide.
Authorities also discovered a six-page, unreleased document (pending review with the Department of Defense due to potential classified material), along with data from a laptop, phone, and smartwatch.
Among the released items was Livelsberger’s journal, titled “surveillance” or “surveil,” which documented his belief of being tracked, despite lacking a criminal record or prior police involvement.
The journal revealed his initial consideration of targeting the Grand Canyon’s glass skywalk, though the reason for his change of plans remains unclear. He also expressed concern about being labeled a terrorist and misconstrued as intending to harm others.
Video footage shows a flash, believed to be from Livelsberger’s firearm, preceding the fire engulfing the truck’s cabin and spreading due to fuel vapor, culminating in an explosion.
Livelsberger, an Army Green Beret with two Afghanistan deployments, left notes describing the explosion as a “wake-up call” addressing national issues.
Cell phone notes referenced needing to “cleanse” his mind and relieve himself of burdens associated with past actions.
The explosion resulted in minor injuries to seven individuals with minimal damage to the Trump International Hotel. Authorities confirm Livelsberger acted alone.
Livelsberger’s letters addressed political grievances, societal issues, and international conflicts, including the war in Ukraine, expressing a belief that the U.S. was in decline.
Investigators explored whether the choice of target—a Tesla outside a hotel bearing the name of the president-elect—held political significance.
Law enforcement officials stated that Livelsberger held no animosity toward President-elect Trump; one note urged national unity around him and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.