Man who exploded Cybertruck outside a Trump hotel used AI to plot attack, police say

LAS VEGAS (FOX5/Gray News) - Las Vegas police shared additional information on Tuesday, as well as new video that shows the moments leading up to a Cybertruck explosion on New Year’s Day.

The investigation into the explosion that happened in the valet area of the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas has reached its second week.

The driver, who police identified as Matthew Livelsberger, died.

The explosion also injured several others.

New video shows Livelsberger pouring about 20 gallons of fuel in the back of the Cybertruck before heading to his next location.

Authorities say Livelsberger was an active-duty soldier from Colorado Springs.

Last week, police shared two letters that were on one of two phones found with Livelsberger.

The soldier called for America to “wake up,” and also said that the country was “terminally ill and headed toward collapse.”

During an update on Tuesday, authorities shared a six-page manifesto that was discovered, which includes artificial intelligence searches on ChatGPT that Livelsberger made to plan the explosion. He used the AI platform to search, “What is the legal limit to buy Tannerite in Colorado,” “Will a 50 caliber desert eagle pistol set it off,” and “Are fireworks legal in Arizona,” according to police.

OpenAI, which operates ChatGPT, released a statement after police shared the update on Tuesday.

“We are saddened by this incident and committed to seeing AI tools 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. We’re working with law enforcement to support their investigation,” an OpenAI spokesperson said.

Police confirmed Livelsberger died by suicide.

ATF officials say they are still working to rule out all possible scenarios regarding how the initial flame was ignited.

“The driver that was found in that vehicle and the self-inflicted gunshot wound that is consistent from our belief that muzzle flash alone could initiate this fuel air explosion,” said Kenny Cooper, ATF San Francisco Field division.

Officials also believe an electrical short in the ignition of the vehicle could have ignited the flammable material.

“This investigation is far from over,” police added.

Officials said they are working to review another phone and a laptop that were found in the Cybertruck.

The explosion took place only hours after another driver, 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, rammed a truck into a crowd in New Orleans’ famed French Quarter early on New Year’s Day, killing at least 14 people before he was shot to death by police.