Prosecutors used ChatGPT logs as evidence in a trial for an arson suspect, but the jury was unconvinced, leading to a mistrial.
<figure>
<img alt="Palisades fire burns above Topanga Canyon Blvd in Los Angeles, CA." data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Photo by Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Image" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22530766/1232927726.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" />
<figcaption>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Jonathan Rinderknecht was facing arson charges for setting a fire on New Year's Day in 2025, which became one of the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/605763/investigation-fire-emergency-alert-los-angeles-congress">deadliest wildfires</a> in <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/600752/wildfires-los-angeles-climate-attribution-study">LA history</a>. 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.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">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. They also pointed to a screen recording in which Rinderknecht asked ChatGPT whether someone could be blamed for a fire if it was lit by their …</p>
<p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/958751/prosecutors-chatgpt-palisades-wildfire-arson-mistrial">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>
# Prosecutors used ChatGPT logs as evidence in the Palisades fire trial
Source: [https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/958751/prosecutors-chatgpt-palisades-wildfire-arson-mistrial](https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/958751/prosecutors-chatgpt-palisades-wildfire-arson-mistrial)
[](https://www.theverge.com/authors/terrence-obrien)
Terrence O'Brien
is the Verge’s weekend editor\. 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](https://www.theverge.com/news/605763/investigation-fire-emergency-alert-los-angeles-congress)in[LA history](https://www.theverge.com/news/600752/wildfires-los-angeles-climate-attribution-study)\. 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\. They also pointed to a screen recording in which Rinderknecht asked ChatGPT whether someone could be blamed for a fire if it was lit by their cigarette\.
But the jurors were unconvinced\. The trial ended in a[deadlock](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2w0k5zzryo)when the jury voted 10\-2 in favor of the defense\. That led the judge to declare a hung jury and a mistrial\.
One juror told*[CBS LA](https://www.tiktok.com/@cbsla/video/7655808635003555085)*that she didn’t believe the ChatGPT logs were proof of anything, saying, “I talk to ChatGPT all the time\.” She said it actually made her “angry” that they were suggesting his use of the chatbot indicated some sort of character flaw\.
**Follow topics and authors**from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates\.
- Terrence O'Brien
A New Mexico defense lawyer was held in contempt of court for submitting an AI-generated brief containing fake testimony from fabricated witnesses after using ChatGPT. He admitted to not verifying the content, leading to disciplinary action.
The New York Times and Daily News accuse OpenAI of hiding evidence about its ability to search customer chat logs and training data for copyrighted works in an ongoing copyright lawsuit.
Updated article reports on the ongoing OpenAI copyright infringement litigation where 20 million ChatGPT conversation logs were ordered disclosed to plaintiffs, with plaintiffs now alleging OpenAI failed to retain conversations and over-redacted logs, requesting sanctions.
An expert witness used ChatGPT to assist in writing a report defending 3M in a lawsuit over a deadly explosion, illustrating the increasing integration of AI tools in legal proceedings.
A court ruled that ChatGPT users are non-parties with no standing to object to their conversation logs being handed over to the New York Times in the OpenAI copyright case, highlighting the gap between company privacy promises and legal reality.