Cybertruck explosion outside Trump Hotel in Vegas allegedly planned using ChatGPT

According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Matthew Livelsberger, a U.S. Army Special Forces Master Sergeant, meticulously orchestrated the explosion of a Cybertruck outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas last week.

He also reportedly refined his plan and made adjustments “in real time” over several days using ChatGPT.

The active-duty US Army Green Beret who authorities say exploded a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas last week used artificial intelligence to plan the blast, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

— CNN (@cnn.com) 2025-01-07T22:43:15.972Z

At the most recent press briefing regarding the investigation into the Cybertruck explosion outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, authorities revealed disturbing details about how the suspect, who died just before the blast, meticulously developed his plan.

Investigators discovered a “six-page manifesto” on his cell phone, in which he explained every step of his project in detail.

Livelsberger allegedly carefully orchestrated the explosion, triggered by a combination of fireworks, gas tanks and a large quantity of camping fuel placed in the vehicle’s body, all activated via a device he controlled.

At the press briefing, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department showed surveillance footage where the camping fuel can clearly be seen spilling onto the ground after the vehicle involved passed.

He reportedly clarified every detail with ChatGPT, from the materials used to the exact quantities needed to achieve the desired effect.

In his manifesto, Livelsberger, who committed suicide shortly before the explosion, claimed to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), while admitting to regular drug use and large quantities of alcohol, revealing serious mental health problems combined with political grievances.

According to investigators, in his manifesto Livelsberger expresses his intention to be “as detailed as possible” to facilitate investigations and allow focus on “the task at hand”.

He describes this task as “eliminating Democratic Party elements in the current administration, the remaining generals in the army, as well as members of the Joint Chiefs” of Staff, whom he visibly perceived as undesirable political influences within the administration and military hierarchy.

He also claims to have believed he was being followed for most of his journey from Colorado to his final destination, outside the Trump International Hotel.

Authorities clarified, however, that the suspect had no criminal history and was not under surveillance by the FBI or the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department prior to the events.

Authorities expressed deep concern at the accuracy with which ChatGPT answered Livelsberger’s questions in planning this forward, claiming that the use of AI was a real “turning point” in this event.

For their part, OpenAI representatives told CNN they were “saddened by this incident” and reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring responsible use of AI tools, adding that their models “are designed to reject harmful instructions and minimize harmful content”.