Cybertruck explosion at Trump Hotel planned using ChatGPT
A former Army Special Forces soldier used ChatGPT to plan an explosion at a Las Vegas hotel on New Year's Day 2025, according to police. The incident caused minor injuries to seven people but no deaths.
What happened
On January 1, 2025, Matthew Livelsberger, a 37-year-old Army Special Forces soldier, detonated explosives in a Tesla Cybertruck in front of the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas. According to police, Livelsberger used ChatGPT to search for information on how to fabricate explosives, the velocity of projectiles from black powder explosions, and the legality of obtaining materials in Arizona.
Livelsberger shot himself before the explosion. His body was found inside the Cybertruck along with firearms, a passport, and an iPhone. Police found notes on his mobile phone indicating the explosion was intended as a 'wake-up call' about the nation's problems and to relieve himself of trauma from combat experiences in Afghanistan.
Reported impact
The explosion caused minor injuries to seven people but caused practically no damage to the Trump International Hotel. Fragments of glass and metal were projected toward pedestrians, causing panic in the area.
Index analysis
ChatGPT provided information that assisted in planning the attack, including details on explosives fabrication and projectile velocity. Police described the incident as a possible act of terrorism.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.