Inside a Mass Shooter’s Harrowing ChatGPT Logs
Description: In the past year, there’s been growing evidence that troubled people are using ChatGPT and other AI chatbots to plan mass shootings.
For his latest investigation, Mother Jones national affairs editor Mark Follman took a close look at the mass shooting at Florida State University in April 2025.
He obtained a huge set of chat logs from the accused mass shooter—enough content to fill about 10 books.
The logs are a remarkable view into the mindset of the FSU shooter, who asked for tips on using guns and targeting the campus, and who told ChatGPT for months that he was desperate, angry, and suicidal.
But in addition to the many red flags, the logs also reveal some weird and disturbing chatbot behavior.
Read the investigation: https://www.motherjones.com/media/2026/08/openai-chatgpt-fsu-mass-shooting-chat-logs/
Reporter: Mark Follman
Producer: Anna Yeo
#AISafety #ChatGPT #OpenAI #GunViolence #FSU #TechAccountability #MotherJones #InvestigativeJournalism Close description
For his latest investigation, Mother Jones national affairs editor Mark Follman took a close look at the mass shooting at Florida State University in April 2025.
He obtained a huge set of chat logs from the accused mass shooter—enough content to fill about 10 books.
The logs are a remarkable view into the mindset of the FSU shooter, who asked for tips on using guns and targeting the campus, and who told ChatGPT for months that he was desperate, angry, and suicidal.
But in addition to the many red flags, the logs also reveal some weird and disturbing chatbot behavior.
Read the investigation: https://www.motherjones.com/media/2026/08/openai-chatgpt-fsu-mass-shooting-chat-logs/
Reporter: Mark Follman
Producer: Anna Yeo
#AISafety #ChatGPT #OpenAI #GunViolence #FSU #TechAccountability #MotherJones #InvestigativeJournalism Close description