Prosecutors used ChatGPT logs as evidence in the Palisades fire trial
He’s covered the tech industry for over 18 years and knows a thing or two about synths.Jonathan Rinderknecht was facing arson charges for setting a fire on New Year’s Day in 2025, which became one of the deadliest wildfires in LA history. To make their case, prosecutors turned to location data from his iPhone, security camera footage, and witness testimony. But they also turned to his ChatGPT logs.Prosecutors said that Rinderknecht had ChatGPT generate images of fire, asked the chatbot, “Why am I so angry all the time?”, and ranted to it about how the wealthy were destroying the world.
- ▪He’s covered the tech industry for over 18 years and knows a thing or two about synths.Jonathan Rinderknecht was facing arson charges for setting a fire on New Year’s Day in 2025, which became one of the deadliest wildfires in LA history.
- ▪To make their case, prosecutors turned to location data from his iPhone, security camera footage, and witness testimony.
- ▪But they also turned to his ChatGPT logs.Prosecutors said that Rinderknecht had ChatGPT generate images of fire, asked the chatbot, “Why am I so angry all the time?”, and ranted to it about how the wealthy were destroying the world.
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| Original publisher | The Verge |
| Canonical URL | https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/958751/prosecutors-chatgpt-palisades-wildfire-arson-mistrial |
| Publication time | 2026-06-28T10:12:06-04:00 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-06-28T14:21:15.582Z |
| Last seen | 2026-06-28T14:21:15.582Z |
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Basis: Derived from the published RSS/Atom feed. Contact: [email protected]. Reviewed: 2026-07-24.
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AICloseAIPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AINewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsPolicyClosePolicyPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PolicyProsecutors used ChatGPT logs as evidence in the Palisades fire trialBut jurors were unconvinced, and it ended in a mistrial.But jurors were unconvinced, and it ended in a mistrial.by Terrence O'BrienCloseTerrence O'BrienWeekend EditorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Terrence O'BrienJun 28, 2026, 2:12 PM UTCLinkShareGiftPhoto by Gina Ferazzi / Los…
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