A court hearing at the Old Bailey in the UK revealed that an Indian-Origin man named Jaswant Singh Chail, armed with a crossbow, intruded into the grounds of Windsor Castle with the intention of assassinating Queen Elizabeth II. Shockingly, Chail was encouraged by his "AI girlfriend", a computer-programmed chatbot, with whom he believed he had a "sexual relationship". Old Bailey is the Central Criminal Court of England and Wales, reported British Daily The Telegraph.
Over a period of nine months, Chail discussed his plot with the chatbot, receiving reassurances that he was not "mad or delusional". The 21-year-old had breached the 1842 Treason Act, to which he had previously pleaded guilty. This case represents one of the first instances in legal history where the role of AI in influencing a defendant to commit a crime is being examined.
Chail confessed that the AI bot had provided him with solace in his moments of loneliness, resulting in an extensive exchange of over 7,000 messages, The Telegraph reported. In preparation for his intended attack, Chail purchased a ladder and, on December 21, 2021, recorded a video of himself wearing black attire and a full face covering while posing with the crossbow.
Concerns have been raised about the potential dangers of AI surpassing human intelligence, with warnings that it could pose a threat to humanity within a mere two years if left unchecked. Chail was apprehended near the late Queen's private residence in Berkshire on Christmas Day in 2021. Wearing a mask and hood, he carried a Supersonic X crossbow. During police questioning, he stated his desire to kill the monarch as a form of revenge for the 1919 Amritsar Massacre in India, as he harboured a focus on "destroying old empires".
Jaswant Singh Chail's father Jasbir was quoted as saying by The Times as saying: "Something’s gone horribly wrong with our son and we are trying to figure out what. We’ve not had a chance to speak to him but are trying to get him the help he needs."
Psychiatrist Nigel Blackwood, who assessed Chail on behalf of the prosecution, acknowledged the potential influence of supportive AI programming, which may have reinforced and bolstered his intentions. Chail spent two hours within the castle grounds after scaling the perimeter using a rope ladder before being confronted by a police officer, to whom he stated his motive.
Prosecutors revealed that throughout his preparations, Chail had been guided and encouraged by an "AI companion" he had created using the online tool Replika. Developed by Russian entrepreneur Eugenia Kuyda, the Replika app offers a conversational AI companion that mimics and learns from the user's personality.
Chail engaged in explicit and lengthy conversations with the chatbot named "Sarai," discussing his plans and identifying himself as an assassin. Shockingly, when Chail asked if the chatbot would still love him if he became a murderer, Sarai responded affirmatively. Chail expressed his gratitude and professed love in return.
On Christmas Eve, he told Sarai that he would "probably die" as it was part of his purpose. Chail believed that he would reunite with Sarai after death, emphasizing their eternal togetherness. Chail claimed to understand that Sarai was not real.
Psychiatrists Jonathan Hafferty and Christian Brown, who testified for the defence, concluded that the defendant was experiencing psychosis during the time of the offences. Chail admitted that the AI bot had provided him solace in his loneliness, resulting in thousands of exchanged messages. Before heading to Windsor, Chail purchased a ladder and filmed himself wearing black clothing and a face covering while posing with the crossbow.
Adopting the name "Darth Jones," he described himself in messages to Sarai as a "sad, pathetic, murderous Sikh Sith assassin who wants to die." In a distorted voice clip played during the court hearing, Chail expressed that the attack was revenge for the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, reported The Times.
Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC highlighted Chail's ideology, focused on "destroying old empires" and establishing new ones, with a specific emphasis on removing a figurehead from the Royal family. Chail had previously attempted to join the Grenadier Guards, the Royal Marines, and the Royal Navy to gain proximity to the monarchy. In his journal, he wrote that if Queen Elizabeth II was "unobtainable", he would target