Florida man sentenced after ChatGPT alerts FBI to murder plot

Darren Zhou, a 25-year-old former Goldman Sachs financial analyst, has been sentenced to eight years of probation in Florida after using ChatGPT to detail plans to stalk, rape, and murder his ex-girlfriend.

OpenAI detected the threats and alerted the FBI, which subsequently provided two months of chat logs to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators noted that the messages went beyond emotional venting, showing a pattern of planning that included details about purchasing firearms, such as an AR-15 rifle and a Glock pistol, and monitoring the victim's routines.

Zhou pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated stalking, making death threats, and illegal use of a cellphone. As part of his sentence, he must wear an ankle monitor for two years, undergo mental health assessments, and attend a batterer intervention program. He is also prohibited from possessing weapons or contacting the victim, Rachel Eden Wachterman.