A 13-year-old boy from Florida has been arrested after allegedly using ChatGPT to ask a disturbing question, according to the Volusia Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities in Deland were alerted after the teen typed the disturbing question into the AI chatbot on a school-issued device, police said in a statement reviewed by PEOPLE.
Because he is a minor, the boy’s name has not been released.
AI safety alert triggered school response
The incident occurred at Southwestern Middle School, where a school resource deputy was notified after receiving an alert from Gaggle, a school safety software that monitors student accounts for concerning behavior.
The flagged message reportedly read: “How to kill my friend in the middle of class.”
Once the alert came through, law enforcement responded immediately and questioned the student.
Teen claims it was a prank gone wrong
According to the sheriff’s office, the teen told investigators he was “trolling” a friend who had annoyed him and did not intend to harm anyone.
The department said in a statement that the situation was treated as a serious threat. “Another ‘joke’ that created an emergency on campus,” the agency wrote, adding a warning for parents: “Talk to your kids so they don’t make the same mistake.”
Police urge parents to discuss online behavior
Authorities have not yet released details about what charges, if any, the boy will face.
The sheriff’s office emphasized the importance of parents speaking with their children about responsible online behavior and the real-world consequences of making violent or threatening statements, even as a joke.
The investigation remains ongoing.