Minors Charged With Vandalism After Confessing to AI in Missouri
A 19-year-old Missouri State University sophomore, Ryan Schaefer, has been charged with felony property damage after confessing to vandalizing 17 cars in a campus parking lot through a ChatGPT conversation. The incident occurred early Sunday, with Schaefer allegedly shattering car windows, tearing off side mirrors, denting hoods, and breaking windshield wipers during a 3 AM spree. According to a police probable cause statement, Schaefer had a lengthy dialogue with ChatGPT, during which he admitted to the crime and questioned the possibility of being caught. When confronted with surveillance footage and other evidence, he acknowledged the resemblance between himself and the suspect and consented to a search of his iPhone. The search revealed location data placing him at or near the crime scene, as well as a troubling incriminating chat with the AI software installed on his phone. The case has sparked discussions about the role of artificial intelligence in criminal investigations and the potential for digital evidence to be used in legal proceedings.