Uber driver accused of starting wildfire that killed 12 and destroyed 7,000 buildings first imagined it using ChatGPT

Uber

A 29-year-old Uber driver in the US, Jonathan Rinderknecht, has been arrested for allegedly starting the Palisades Fire in California on New Year’s Day 2025. The fire destroyed over 23,000 acres, killed 12 people, and damaged nearly 7,000 buildings, making it one of the most destructive wildfires in recent memory.

Rinderknecht, a former resident of Pacific Palisades, was working as an Uber driver on New Year’s Eve 2024 and reportedly took at least two rides before allegedly igniting what was first called the Lachman Fire. The blaze appeared to be under control initially but smoldered unnoticed for a week. High winds then turned it into the massive Palisades Fire, which raged throughout January 2025 before being fully contained on January 31.

According to Gizmodo report, Rinderknecht tried to call emergency services several times but faced technical issues. He eventually reached 911 at 12:17 a.m. on January 1 — after a local resident had already reported the fire. GPS data, security camera footage, and videos he took place him near the initial fire site. The documents also allege that he passed fire engines responding to the fire, then turned around to follow them.

Authorities are also looking into his online activity for clues to his motive. The complaint cites chats Rinderknecht allegedly had with ChatGPT, including one in November 2024 where he wrote about burning a Bible and feeling “liberated.” In July 2024, he reportedly asked the AI to generate images of a burning forest with people fleeing, depicting a dystopian scene showing the divide between rich and poor.

Other details include him repeatedly listening to a French song with themes of despair and burning money, and his car appearing in multiple security camera recordings near the fire. He was interviewed by authorities on January 24, though it took several months to formally arrest and charge him.

The case is notable for the way authorities are examining digital footprints, including AI chats, online activity, and music habits, as part of the investigation. Rinderknecht now faces serious charges for allegedly causing one of the deadliest and most destructive wildfires in California’s recent history.

This story serves as a reminder of how technology, AI, and human actions can intersect in unexpected and serious ways.