Zodiac Killer Name Cipher Vs Artificial Intelligence: GPT COPILOT and Gemini

Sam Fisher
4 min readMay 26, 2024

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Every so often I see what happens when you input some questions for the Zodiac Killer into some of the LLM’s or large language models currently popular. For this experiment I used Chat GPT 5, Microsoft Copilot, and Google Gemini for this experiment. I believe that as these become more sophisticated that more ideas will be put out by these artificial intelligence programs. I am excited for the possibility of an artificial general intelligence to take over this case to possibly see what creative ways it would be able to solve this case. In regards to my other posts I am and feel confident that it will name Joseph Paul Franklin as the prime individual responsible for the crimes.

If you don’t know who Joseph Paul Franklin is please check out some of my other articles but in the meantime here are the results as of May 2024 of the following experiment on the LLM’s and the Zodiac Killer.

I wanted to share what I found when prompted for the Zodiac Killer name cipher vs three artificial intelligence LLM (Large Language Models).

First Chat GPT5 (Free version)

“What do you think the Zodiac Z13 name cipher says?”

Chat GPT: “The Zodiac Killer, an unidentified serial killer active in Northern California during the late 1960s and early 1970s, claimed to have sent cryptic messages to the media. One of these messages was the “Zodiac Z13 name cipher,” which was sent to the San Francisco Chronicle in 1970. The cipher has never been definitively solved, and its exact meaning remains a mystery. Over the years, numerous amateur and professional cryptographers have attempted to decipher it, but no consensus has been reached on its interpretation. Some believe it may contain the killer’s identity or other crucial information, while others think it could be a hoax or a red herring. Without a breakthrough in codebreaking or new evidence, the meaning of the Zodiac Z13 name cipher is likely to remain elusive.”

Next up: Microsoft Copilot

Me: What do you think the Zodiac Z13 name cipher likely says?

Copilot: The Zodiac Z13 cipher has been the subject of much speculation and analysis. Let’s explore some of the proposed solutions:

  1. “No Name No Name”:
  1. “KAYR”:
  1. “I am Kane. I am a man. I am aka Zodiac.”:
  • Yet another interpretation reveals the phrase “I am Kane. I am a man. I am aka Zodiac” when deciphered3.
  • This solution provides a more detailed message, but its authenticity remains uncertain.

In summary, the Z13 cipher remains enigmatic, with multiple proposed solutions. Without further input from the killer, definitive conclusions are elusive. Keep in mind that the Zodiac Killer’s ciphers continue to captivate amateur sleuths and researchers alike, making them an enduring mystery in true crime history.

The following pages were given as references to the Microsoft Copilot:

Googe Gemini:

Me: What do you think the Zodiac Z13 unsolved cipher likely says?

Gemini:

Gemini: The Zodiac Z13 cipher is unfortunately very difficult to crack due to its short length. This makes it hard to apply common decryption methods that rely on frequent letter patterns. Experts believe it’s a substitution cipher, where letters are replaced with other letters or symbols.

Here’s some information about the Z13 cipher:

  • Short length: At only 13 characters, the Z13 cipher offers limited data to work with for decryption.
  • Possible substitution cipher: It’s believed to be a substitution cipher, but without knowing the substitution method, it remains indecipherable.

There have been attempts to solve the Z13 cipher, some suggesting names or phrases, but none have been universally accepted.

If you’re interested in learning more about the cipher and deciphering attempts, you can search for “Zodiac Z13 cipher solution” online.

Conclusion: It seems that while some interesting solutions but of course nothing has come of any of the proposed solutions just yet.

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