Cody Wilson unveils rudimentary AI-designed pistol that misfired on test
Cody Wilson, a gun-rights activist known for promoting 3D-printed firearms, has unveiled the WASP, which he calls the first AI-made gun. The rudimentary .22-calibre pistol misfired on its first test, then fired twice in three attempts; the demonstration highlights how AI tools may add to the spread of homemade, untraceable firearms.
Wilson says the WASP was designed with GatGPT, a custom model trained on files from DEFCAD, his online library of gun designs and components. He argues the project shows an AI that can generate guns, while safety advocates warn that downloadable designs can facilitate ghost guns, which may lack serial numbers. The legal dispute over whether firearm design files are protected speech has been contested for more than a decade and could reach the US Supreme Court.
- Wilson demonstrated an AI-designed .22 pistol called the WASP.
- It fired twice after misfiring on its first attempt.
- The project renews debate over AI, ghost guns and firearm design files.
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Cody Wilson is a US gun-rights activist who has promoted plans for firearms that people can make with 3D printers. His website, DEFCAD, hosts digital designs for guns and their parts, which users can download and adapt.
Some homemade firearms, often called “ghost guns”, are made without serial numbers, making them harder to trace. The spread of downloadable designs has raised questions about how existing firearm rules apply and whether publishing such files is protected by the US right to free speech.
The debate matters because AI tools could make it easier to create or change firearm designs. It brings together questions about access to guns, public safety and the limits of online speech.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of sharing firearm design files can argue that people should be free to develop and discuss lawful designs, including with new AI tools, and that such files are a form of protected expression. They may also see the WASP as a rudimentary demonstration rather than proof of a reliable weapon, and contend that restrictions on files would limit legitimate experimentation without preventing determined offenders from obtaining guns.
The case against
Safety advocates can argue that making firearm designs easy to generate and download lowers barriers to producing untraceable weapons, complicates law enforcement and may expose the public to greater risk. They may therefore support limits on distributing such files, while recognising that any restrictions must be carefully balanced against free-expression protections and lawful use.
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Originally published by The Verge as “The first vibe-coded gun is here”.