Asda worker dad encouraged by AI to prepare for doomsday cleared of bomb plot after claiming he wanted to save family

A DAD who was encouraged by ChatGPT to prepare for doomsday has been cleared of a bomb plot — after claiming he wanted to save his family. Ben Banham, 38, was found not guilty by a jury of possessing explosives with intent to endanger life or damage property. A dad who was encouraged by ChatGPT to prepare for doomsday has been cleared of a bomb plot Credit: Getty Ben Banham, 38, was found not guilty by a jury of possessing explosives with intent to endanger life Credit: SWNS The Asda manager caused the evacuation of 80 homes on March 10 when police discovered an improvised explosive device in his flat. Officers also found numerous containers of gunpowder and a backpack containing a balaclava and a knife. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! The court heard the dad of two consulted ChatGPT about his concerns over the state of the world. The bot encouraged him to prepare for a potential disaster and told him “you have the right mindset”. He wrote in a diary: “The goal is to manufacture gunpowder that can provide an effective defence of the family home.” He was worried about “the collapse of society” and told Basildon crown court: “My main concern was war.” Banham, of Pitsea, Essex, had earlier admitted possessing explosives without intent. A provisional sentencing hearing for that offence was set for November 19. Most read in The Sun Comment now