Allegations of Poisoning Plot at University of Wisconsin

An employee at the University of Wisconsin is facing serious accusations after allegedly confessing to using ChatGPT to assist in a plot to poison a colleague. This stemmed from a long-standing grudge, according to authorities.

Makoto Kuroda, 41, who works at the Madison School of Veterinary Medicine Influenza Research Institute, is charged with recklessly endangering safety and tampering with household items, as detailed in a criminal complaint.

The investigation started when university police were alerted on April 6 about potentially harmful chemicals found in a colleague’s water bottle. The employee, referred to as TM in the legal documents, became suspicious after tasting something unusual from a Trader Joe’s bottle and ended up spitting it out.

Two days later, TM noticed a strange odor from his shoes, which he believed might be chloroform. Subsequent tests confirmed that chloroform was present in his water bottle; in fact, the levels were so high the test couldn’t even register accurate results.

After Kuroda approached TM and reportedly admitted to the poisoning scheme, TM was understandably alarmed and rushed to report the incident. In a shocking interaction, Kuroda allegedly said, “I did it,” while commenting on TM’s shoes. The pair had been good friends, but it’s unclear how their relationship deteriorated.

Interestingly, Kuroda later sent an email in Japanese, expressing regret for his actions, stating, “I did it. I also told him. I am very sorry. Makoto Kuroda.” It turns out he held a grudge against TM for not adhering to laboratory protocols, such as wearing a lab coat and goggles. Both men had been promoted at work, but the dynamics shifted when TM received an additional promotion that Kuroda did not.

Documents suggest that Kuroda felt that TM began to treat his colleagues poorly after his promotion. He reportedly went into the lab on April 5, took a half-filled water bottle belonging to TM, and mixed some chemicals to put into it. He also applied the mixture to TM’s shoes.

Kuroda utilized ChatGPT on his work computer to determine the right dosages for his plan. Despite warnings from the AI platform, he chose to proceed, saying he “did not reconsider” his actions. When asked about his intentions, Kuroda remarked, “My purpose was just to feel bad.”

He was arrested on April 10 and has been released on a $5,000 bail, which requires him to avoid contact with TM, surrender his passport, and steer clear of university labs.

The University of Wisconsin stated that Kuroda is currently on administrative leave and has been stripped of his research privileges as they conduct an internal investigation. As of now, there’s no immediate response to inquiries about the situation.

Kuroda is scheduled to appear in court again on June 1.