A 17-year-old Massachusetts teenager has been charged with the murders of his mother and younger brother after prosecutors said he had used ChatGPT to create fictional stories and search for ideas involving the killing of his family.
Arjun Aravind pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and other charges following the deaths of his mother, Sudha Venkatesan, 45, and his 14-year-old brother, Siddharth Aravind, at their home in Acton, Massachusetts.
Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said investigators found that Aravind had recently used the internet and ChatGPT to create fictional stories involving threats to his family.
Authorities said officers discovered the victims at the family home after a tutor arrived for a scheduled visit and was unable to enter. Aravind was not at the scene and was later arrested in a neighboring town while inside his mother’s car.
Police also recovered a damaged laptop and an item believed to be a knife from the home. Authorities have not yet released the victims’ official causes of death.
According to police reports cited by local media, Aravind had experienced behavioural problems over the past year, prompting his family to hide knives from him.
The teenager has been ordered to remain in custody without bail and undergo a mental health evaluation. His next court hearing is scheduled for September 11.
The case has renewed questions about the use of artificial intelligence by young people, although prosecutors have not said that ChatGPT caused or directly contributed to the alleged killings.
