The Uber driver who allegedly caused the Palisades fire used ChatGPT to imagine a forest burning

Federal authorities announced the arrest of a 29-year-old Uber driver in Florida on Wednesday on charges of starting a blaze that eventually became the Palisades Fire just north of Los Angeles on New Year’s Day 2025. The blaze destroyed more than 23,000 acres, killed 12 people, and destroyed nearly 7,000 structures over the following weeks.

Authorities allege that Jonathan Rinderknecht, who previously lived in the Pacific Palisades area, was working as an Uber driver in the area on New Year’s Eve and took at least two trips that night before starting a fire that became known as the Lackman Fire, authorities said. Criminal complaint Filed in California.

The Lackman Fire was thought to be extinguished after a few hours, but dry conditions allowed it to burn undetected for a week before high winds caused it to become the Palisades Fire, which would burn for weeks before it was officially fully contained on January 31.

Rinderknecht took videos of the area around the time the Lachman Fire started and tried to call 911 several times but failed for technical reasons, according to the complaint. GPS data for those attempted calls was recorded and placed in the area. He successfully reached 911 at 12:17 a.m. on Jan. 1, even though a local resident had already reported the fire at that point, according to the complaint.

Rinderknecht, who is said to speak French, also listened to a song by French artist Guzman entitled “On roar, on the“On YouTube multiple times. The charging document says Google records show he listened to the song nine times in four days, and it includes themes”Despair and bitternessThe video shows a few shots in which fake money is set on fire.

Charging documents also allege that Rinderknecht’s vehicle was captured on home surveillance cameras in the area, and that he drove past fire engines responding to the fire before turning around and following them.

Charging documents indicate that authorities questioned Rinderknecht on January 24, although it is not clear why it took so long to arrest and charge the suspect. The documents also contain alleged excerpts of his conversations with ChatGPT, which authorities are clearly trying to suggest would provide some sort of motive for the alleged arson.

One conversation that allegedly occurred with the AI ​​chatbot on November 1, 2024, two months before the fire started:

“I’m 28 years old. And… I Basically…it just happened. Maybe like… I don’t know, Maybe like 3 months ago or something. Like an investigation All this. I literally burned the Bible I had. I felt surprising. “It felt very liberating.”

The documents also include a claim Rinderknecht allegedly gave to ChatGPT to produce AI-generated images of fires on July 11, 2024.

“A miserable painting divided into Distinctive parts blend together seamlessly. On the far left, There is a burning forest. Next to him was a crowd of people Fire escape, leading to the middle. in In between, hundreds of thousands of people in poverty are trying to do just that Go past a giant gate with a big dollar sign on it. on The other side of the gate and the entire wall is a conglomeration The richest people. They’re cold, watching the world burn Down, watching people struggle. And they are laughing, They enjoy themselves and dance. The scene is detailed and Poignant, it highlights the stark contrast and direct connection between different parts of the world.

The images have a distinct cartoony vibe that was more common among AI-generated visual media a year ago.

The Palisades Fire drew national attention and attracted the typical self-promoters who emerge during any national tragedy. Elon Musk tried to suggest he saved “Thousands“of lives from the Palisades Fire along with the Eaton Fire which also killed 19 people. The cause of the Eaton Fire remains unclear.

Musk X’s platform is currently spreading misinformation about the arrest of white man Rinderknecht. As New York Times correspondent Kate Conger said Referenced in Blueskythe X News summary showed a photo of a black man.

Rinderknecht also used the names “Jonathan Rinder” and “Jon Rinder,” according to the complaint. His first appearance in court is The decision for Wednesday at 1:30 PM ET in U.S. District Court in Orlando, Florida. ATF took the lead in the investigation.

Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Eseley said in a… press conference That Wednesday Renderknecht He was charged with destruction of property using fire, but other charges could be added, including murder.

“The complaint alleges that one person’s recklessness caused one of the worst fires Los Angeles has ever seen, resulting in death and widespread destruction in Pacific Palisades,” Al-Asili said in a statement. press release.

“Although we cannot regain what the victims have lost, we hope that this criminal case will bring a measure of justice to those affected by this horrific tragedy.”