I just pasted the Tyler Robinson and roommate text messages into ChatGPT and asked whether they seem authentic.

[EarlG]

15. "It did that on its own."

Well, not really. It just rearranged English words into an order which seemed acceptable to you, based on the prompt you gave it.

If you'd like an opposing point of view, here's what Gemini had to say:

Here's an analysis of why this exchange feels like a genuine, unscripted conversation:

Shifting Focus and Disjointed Thoughts: The conversation doesn't follow a perfect, linear script. Robinson's messages jump between topics—from being stuck in Orem, to needing the rifle, to a personal confession, to worrying about their dad and a meme on the engraved bullets. This reflects how real-life stress and a stream of consciousness can lead to a less-than-perfect narrative. A fabricated text exchange would likely be more streamlined and follow a clear, logical progression.

Informal Language and Expletives: The use of informal, conversational language and expletives ("how the [expletive] will I explain losing it," "that really [expletive] sucks" ) adds to the authenticity. This is how many people communicate in private, high-stress situations, rather than using formal or polished prose.

Focus on Irrelevant or Personal Details: Robinson's concern about his "old man" and his grandpa's rifle might seem like a bizarre detail to include in a confession, but it adds a layer of genuine human emotion and concern. The fear of disappointing a parent over a family heirloom, even in the midst of a murder confession, is a deeply personal and authentic touch. Similarly, the reference to the "notices bulge uwu" meme and a specific scope price ($2k) adds idiosyncratic details that would be difficult to invent and serve no clear narrative purpose other than reflecting the individual's genuine thought process.

Emotional and Psychological Arc: The exchange shows a progression of Robinson's emotional state. It starts with a reassuring "I am still ok," moves to a confession and justification ("I am, I'm sorry," "I had enough of his hatred" ), and ends with a resignation to turn themselves in and a final concern for their partner's well-being. This emotional journey is a hallmark of a real, unscripted human interaction.

Natural Responses from the Partner: The roommate's questions ("you weren’t the one who did it right????", "I thought they caught the person?" ) are exactly the kind of confused, disbelieving, and shocked responses you would expect from someone hearing such a revelation. The use of multiple question marks and short, direct questions indicates a state of disbelief and urgency, rather than a scripted dialogue.

Instruction to Delete: The command "delete this exchange" is a powerful indicator of authenticity. It is a genuine attempt to erase a confession, something a person would do in a moment of panic. It's a common, if ultimately futile, action that people take when they have incriminated themselves.

It gave me that info because of the prompt I gave it.

Edited to add: By the way, to be clear *I* am not making any assertions about whether the text messages are genuine or not. I just want to make the point that asking a chatbot is unlikely to provide any clarity.