>>> BREAKING NEWS TONIGHT, THE HISTORIC ARREST AND ARRAIGNMENT OF DONALD TRUMP. THE UNPRECEDENTED SCENE PLAYING OUT ON LIVE TV. MR. TRUMP, THE FIRST FORMER PRESIDENT TO BE CRIMINALLY CHARGED SURRENDERING AT THE COURTHOUSE IN NEW YORK WHERE HE WAS PROCESSED AND FINGERPRINTED BUT NO MUG SHOT. HE WAS THEN TAKEN INTO THE COURTROOM AND THE INDICTMENT UNSEALED. 34 FELONY COUNTS OF FALSIFYING BUSINESS RECORDS. PROSECUTORS ALLEGING AN ILLEGAL CONSPIRACY INVOLVING HUSH MONEY PAYMENTS TO TWO WOMEN DURING THE 2016 CAMPAIGN AND THE ALLEGATION OF A THIRD PAYMENT TO A DOORMAN AT TRUMP TOWER THE NEW EVIDENCE D.A. ALVIN BRAGG HINTED AT. MR. TRUMP PLEADING NOT GUILTY TO ALL COUNTS AND LAWYERS FIRING BACK OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE WHAT THE JUDGE WARNED BOTH SIDES ABOUT WHEN IS HIS NEXT COURT DATE, AND WHEN COULD HE STAND TRIAL OUR FULL COVERAGE. >>> ALSO TONIGHT, THE DANGEROUS TORNADO THREAT MORE THAN 40 MILLION ON ALERT IN THE SOUTH AND MIDWEST, INCLUDING AREAS STILL REELING FROM DEADLY STORMS AL ROKER IS HERE >>> FOR THE FIRST TIME THE OFFICERS WHO TOOK DOWN THE NASHVILLEILY DYNASTIES "INSPIRING AMERICA. >> THIS IS "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS WITH LESTER HOLT. >>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME. IT WAS A LEGAL SPECTACLE NEVER SEEN BEFORE IN AMERICA WITH POTENTIALLY UNPRECEDENTED POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS AS WELL. DONALD TRUMP, THE FORMER PRESIDENT AND CURRENT PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, WALKING INTO A NEW YORK COURTROOM AFTER BEING FINGERPRINTED AND BEING CHARGED WITH 34 FELONIES THE CHARGES STEMMING FROM A SERIES OF ALLEGED HUSH MONEY PAYOFFS TO AN ADULT FILM STAR IN HOPE OF AVOIDING SCANDALS AS HE RAN FOR PRESIDENT HE IS THE FIRST FORMER AMERICAN PRESIDENT TO FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES. AND TODAY BEFORE A JUDGE IN MANHATTAN CRIMINAL COURT HE PLEADED NOT GUILTY AFTERWARD, HIS LAWYERS BLASTING THE INDICTMENT AND THOUGH HE HAS BEEN DEFIANT, ONE SOURCE DESCRIBED MR. TRUMP TODAY AS VERY SOMBER. IT WAS THE START OF WHAT WILL BE A DRAWN-OUT PROCESS FOR THE FORMER PRESIDENT AND IT'S WHERE WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH NBC'S GARRETT HAAKE. GARRETT, GOOD EVENING. 3GOOD EVENING, LESTER. THIS HISTORY-MAKING HEARING LASTED LESS THAN AN HOUR I WAS IN THE COURTROOM FOR WHAT MR. TRUMP HIMSELF DESCRIBED AS A SURREAL EXPERIENCE TONIGHT, FOR THE FIRST TIME FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP BACK IN FLORIDA. SLAMMING THE CHARGES FROM MANHATTAN PROSECUTORS. >> THE ONLY CRIME I COMMITTED IS TO FEARLESSLY DEFEND OUR NATION FROM THOSE THAT SEEK TO DESTROY IT THIS FAKE CASE TO INTERFERE WITH UPCOMING 2024 LENGS. IT SHOULD BE DEVELOPED IMMEDIATELY. >> Reporter: POSTING THEY WILL ARREST ME. THE SURREAL SIGHT WALKED INSIDE. MR. TRUMP PROCESSED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS WITH THE FINGER PRINTS TAKEN BUT NO COMMENT >> PRESIDENT TRUMP, WILL YOU COME SPEAK TO US >> Reporter: THEN SILENTLY WALKING IN TO FACE A JUDGE NO TV CAMERAS ALLOWED IN THE COURTROOM ONLY THESE PHOTOS TAKEN BEFORE THE HEARING SHOWING MR. TRUMP SEATED WITH HIS ATTORNEYS. IN THE HEARING, OUR FIRST LOOK AT THE CHARGES. 34 FELONY COUNTS FOR FALSIFYING BUSINESS RECORDS. >> THE DEFENDANT REPEATEDLY MADE FALSE STATEMENTS ON NEW YORK BUSINESS RECORDS. >> Reporter: THE CASE BROUGHT BY MANHATTAN D.A. ALVIN BRAGG CENTERS AROUND THE ACCOUNTING OF HUSH MONEY PAYMENTS THAT TRUMP FIXER TURNED CRITIC MICHAEL COHEN SAYS HE MADE TO STORMY DANIELS IN 2016 ON BEHALF OF MR. TRUMP TO CONCEAL AN EXTRAMARITAL ENCOUNTER WHICH THE FORMER PRESIDENT DENIES THE INDICTMENT REFERENCING WHAT APPEAR TO BE HUSH MONEY PAYMENTS TO KAREN McDOUGAL WHO ALLEGED AN AFFAIR WITH MR. TRUMP, AND A $30,000 PAYMENT TO A FORMER TRUMP TOWER DOORMAN WHO PROSECUTORS ALLEGE CLAIM TO HAVE A STORY ABOUT A CHILD TRUMP HAD OUT OF WEDLOCK BOTH ACCUSATIONS THAT MR. TRUMP PREVIOUSLY DENIED FALSIFYING BUSINESS RECORDS IS NORMALLY A MISDEMEANOR, BUT IN AN UNTESTED LEGAL GAMBLE, BRAGG IS CHARGING MR. TRUMP WITH THE LOWEST LEGAL FELONIES >> THE CONDUCT I JUST DESCRIBED AND THAT WAS CHARGED BY THE GRAND JURY IS FELONY CRIMINAL CONDUCT IN NEW YORK STATE >> Reporter: MR. TRUMP HIMSELF TELLING THE JUDGE HIS NOT GUILTY PLEA. >> IF THIS MAN'S NAME WAS NOT DONALD J. TRUMP THERE'S NO SCENARIO WE WOULD ALL BE HERE TODAY. PLEASE UNDERSTAND, THAT BASED ON THESE CHARGES. >> Reporter: MR. TRUMP PARTISAN BLASTED IT AS A PARTISAN VENDETTA. >> WE HAVE HAD AVAILABLE TO THE OFFICE ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE THAT WAS NOT IN THE POSSESSION PRIOR TO MY TIME HERE. >> AMERICA FIRST >> Reporter: MEANWHILE, DEMONSTRATORS CLASHING OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE A THIRD TRUMP PROTEST ORGANIZED BY GEORGIA CONGRESSWOMAN MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE CONFRONTED BY A GROUP OF COUNTER PROTESTERS INCLUDING DEMOCRATIC NEW YORK CONGRESSMAN JAMAL BOWMAN >> GO BACK TO YOUR DISTRICT >> WE DUCKED INTO A CAR TO HEAR HER RESPONSE >> THEY'RE NOT LEADING REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION FOR 2024 >> GARRETT, THE JUDGE ALSO HAD SOME STERN WORDS ABOUT SOME OF THE RHETORIC THAT'S BEEN USED SURROUNDING THIS CASE. >> Reporter: THAT'S RIGHT, LESTER. HE WARNED ATTORNEYS ON BOTH SIDES TO MAKE SURE MR. TRUMP OR ANYONE ELSE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS CASE REFRAIN FROM USING LANGUAGE THAT MIGHT INCITE VIOLENCE OR UNDERMINE THE RULE OF LAW. IT COMES AFTER MR. TRUMP HAS PERSONALLY ATTACKED DISTRICT ATTORNEY BRAGG ON SOCIAL MEDIA LESTER >> GARRETT HAAKE, THANK YOU. >>> JOINING ME NOW IS SENIOR LEGAL CORRESPONDENT LAURA JARETT 34 COUNTS HERE HOW STRONG DOES THE STATE'S CASE APPEAR TO BE >> LESTER, THERE IS A MOUNTAIN OF EVIDENCE OFFERED BY PROSECUTORS IN COURT PAPERS TODAY, BUT THE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION IS WHETHER ANY OF IT AMOUNTS TO A CRIME. EXPECT TO HEAR FROM MR. TRUMP'S ATTORNEYS ATTACKING THE WAY BRAGG IS USING UNCHARGED VIOLATIONS OF FEDERAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE VIOLATIONS TO BOLSTER WHAT IS NORMALLY A STATE MISDEMEANOR. IT APPEARS NO COURT HAS EVER RULED THAT THAT'S ALLOWED AND IT'S WHAT MAKES THE CASE LEGALLY RISKY. >> WE CAN'T TAKE THIS IN ISOLATION THERE ARE OTHER INVESTIGATIONS COMING RIGHT NOW. >> THAT'S RIGHT. INCLUDING THE SPECIAL COUNSEL INVESTIGATION WHERE A FEDERAL COURT OF APPEALS UNANIMOUSLY REJECTED MR. TRUMP'S BID TO BLOCK A NUMBER OF HIS SENIOR AIDES FROM TESTIFYING IN FRONT OF A GRAND JURY EXAMINING HIS EFFORTS TO OVERTURN THE 2020 ELECTION >> LAURA JARETT, THANK YOU. >>> THE POLITICAL FALLOUT WAS IMMEDIATE AND SHARPLY DIVIDED ALONG PARTY LINES. KRISTEN WELKER HAS THE REACTION AS AN INDICTED FORMER PRESIDENT RUNS FOR PRESIDENT AGAIN. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, AN UNPRECEDENTED SHAKE-UP IN THE RACE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE IN AN ALREADY-DIVIDED AMERICA. A FORMER AMERICAN PRESIDENT AND THE REPUBLICAN FRONT-RUNNER NOW CRIMINALLY CHARGED IN A MANHATTAN COURT. DEMOCRATS REACTING, CONGRESSMAN ADAM SCHIFF TODAY TWEETING A SOMBER MOMENT IN THE LIFE OUR COUNTRY AND ADDING NOBODY IS ABOVE THE LAW. BUT SOME DEMOCRATS COULD NOT CONTAIN THEIR GLEE CONGRESSWOMAN MAXINE WATERS TWEETING, HALLELUJAH BUT THIS MEASURED RESPONSE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. >> WE ARE JUST NOT GOING TO COMMENT WE'RE NOT GOING TO INTERFERE. WE'RE NOT GOING TO POLITICALLY INTERFERE FROM HERE. WE'VE BEEN CONSISTENT. >> Reporter: THOUGH THE PROSECUTION OF MR. TRUMP BY A DEMOCRATIC D.A. LARGELY UNITING REPUBLICANS SAYING IT'S AN EFFORT TO TAKE OUT PRESIDENT BIDEN'S TOP CHALLENGER >> YOU CANNOT HAVE A SYSTEM WHERE WE'RE GOING AFTER POLITICAL OPPONENTS JUST BECAUSE YOU WANT TO PLAY GOTCHA THAT'S NOT AMERICA. >> Reporter: SPEAKER KEVIN McCARTHY TWEETING BRAGG'S WEAPONIZATION OF THE FEDERAL JUSTICE PROCESS WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY CONGRESS AND THIS REACTION FROM FORMER TRUMP ATTORNEY GENERAL TURNED CRITIC, BILL BARR. >> THIS APPEARS TO BE JUST A PATHETICALLY WEAK CASE, AND I THINK IT'S DEMONSTRABLY LONG ON THE LAW WHICH EXPLAINS WHY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE EVEN AFTER I LEFT OFFICE HAS NEVER PURSUED. >> Reporter: AND WHILE THE INDICTMENT MAY BE MOBILIZING MR. TRUMP'S GOP RIVALS TO CLOSE RANKS AROUND HIM NOW, REPUBLICAN OPERATIVES PREDICT TO NBC NEWS THAT MAY NOT LAST FOREVER, ESPECIALLY WITH OTHER INVESTIGATIONS LOOMING THOUGH ANY SHARPENING IN TONE AGAINST MR. TRUMP COULD BE MONTHS AWAY >> KRISTEN, I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THIS NOW BECOMES A POLITICAL CHALLENGE FOR THE PRESIDENT IN ADDITION TO A LEGAL ONE. >> Reporter: LESTER, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. MR. TRUMP'S NEXT EXPECTED COURT APPEARANCE IS IN DECEMBER THAT'S RIGHT WHEN THE GOP PRIMARY WILL BE HEATING UP SO EXPECT THE FORMER PRESIDENT TO USE THIS INDICTMENT AS A FOCAL POINT IN HIS CAMPAIGN TO TAKE BACK THE WHITE HOUSE. LESTER >> KRISTEN WELKER HERE IN NEW YORK. THANK YOU. >>> NOW TO THE DANGEROUS NIGHT AHEAD IN THE SOUTH AND MIDWEST, ALREADY IMAGES OF POTENTIAL TORNADO DAMAGE TODAY IN NORTHWEST ILLINOIS AND A BARRAGE OF HAIL SOUTH OF MILWAUKEE TONIGHT, TENS OF MILLIONS IN THE RISK ZONE INCLUDING AREAS HIT HARD JUST DAYS AGO. AL ROKER JOINS US NOW. WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING? >> LESTER, WE ALREADY HAVE TORNADO WATCHES IN EFFECT, IOWA, ILLINOIS, ON INTO MISSOURI UNTIL 10:00 TONIGHT AS WE WATCH THESE STORMS START TO FIRE UP ON RADAR TONIGHT, 44 MILLION PEOPLE AT RISK INTO THE OVERNIGHT, LONG, STRONG OVERNIGHT TORNADOES POSSIBLE AND INTENSE WIND GUSTS WE ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AREA FROM DUBUQUE, QUINCY, CHERYL INTO LITTLE ROCK AND SHREVEPORT FOR EF-2 TORNADOES. TOMORROW THAT AREA MOVES EAST FOR 63 MILLION PEOPLE, INCLUDING CHICAGO, DETROIT, JUST WEST OF CLEVELAND AND DOWN INTO INDIANAPOLIS FOR AGAIN, THESE LONG OVERNIGHT TORNADOES AND DURING THE MORNING HOURS. TWO TO THREE INCHES OF RAIN FROM HOUSTON ALL OF THE WAY TO NASHVILLE AND BACK UP INTO THE PLAINS UP TO 30 INCHES OF SNOW WITH BLIZZARD CONDITIONS, LESTER >> ALL RIGHT, AL THANK YOU. >>> FOR THE FIRST TIME TONIGHT WE'RE HEARING FROM THE HEROIC POLICE OFFICERS WHO RESPONDED TO THE DEADLY MASS SHOOTING LAST WEEK AT A CHRISTIAN SCHOOL IN NASHVILLE AND STOPPED IT FROM BEING WORSE. KATHY PARK HAS THAT STORY. >> Reporter: THESE ARE THE FIRST RESPONDING OFFICERS WHO CHARGED INTO THE COVENANT SCHOOL IN NASHVILLE TO STOP A KILLER, FIRING MORE THAN 150 ROUNDS >> I COULDN'T GET TO IT FAST ENOUGH. >> NOT KNOWING WHAT I WAS WALKING INTO I WENT THROUGH THAT DOOR WITH PURPOSE >> Reporter: WITHIN MINUTES OF ARRIVAL, THEY DESCRIBE THE URGENCY TO SAVE LIVES. >> I SAW SHELL CASINGS ON THE GROUND, BULLET HOLES ON THE DOOR SO I IMMEDIATELY MADE ENTRY. >> Reporter: OFFICERS REX ENGELBERT AND MICHAEL COLLAZO ENDED THE BLOODSHED THAT TOOK THE LIVES OF SIX INNOCENT VICTIMS THEIR BODY CAMERAS GIVING US A GLIMPSE OF HOW THEY JUMPED INTO ACTION >> ONCE WE STARTED HEARING THE FIRST SHOTS THAT'S WHEN EVERYTHING KICKED INTO OVERDRIVE FOR US WE HAD TO PUSH PAST THE VICTIM BECAUSE WE CONTINUED TO HEAR MORE SHOTS BEING FIRED. >> Reporter: THEIR QUICK RESPONSE CALLED HEROIC AS THEY PUT THEIR OWN LIVES ON THE LINE WITHOUT HESITATION >> THEY WERE SO IN TUNE TO TRY TO GET IN AND TAKE THIS THREAT DOWN THAT THEY DIDN'T THINK ABOUT THEIR OWN SAFETY >> Reporter: NASHVILLE POLICE STILL HAVE NOT RELEASED A MOTIVE ON THE SHOOTING, BUT AUTHORITIES SAY THE ATTACK HAD BEEN PLANNED FOR MONTHS AND THE SUSPECT CONSIDERED THE ACTIONS OF OTHER MASS MURDERERS, AND THE HOME UNCOVERED A TROVE OF CLUES INCLUDING SHOTGUNS, AMMUNITION, JOURNALS, YEARBOOKS FROM THE COVENANT SCHOOL WHERE AUDREY HALE WAS A FORMER STUDENT AND A SUICIDE NOTE AS THE INVESTIGATION PRESSES ON, A RENEWED PASSION TO PROTECT >> WE TOOK AN OATH ON 2012 TO SERVE AND PROTECT THIS COMMUNITY. MY FAMILY SOMETIMES COMES SECOND IT HAS TO. >> Reporter: MEANWHILE, THIS HEARTBROKEN COMMUNITY STRUGGLING TO MAKE SENSE OF THIS TRAGEDY. KATHY PARK, NBC NEWS >>> LAWYERS FOR JAILED AMERICAN JOURNALIST EVAN GERSHKOVICH FINALLY GOT TO SEE HIM TODAY IN RUSSIA. MOSCOW HAS ACCUSED HIM OF BEING A SPY, A CLAIM THE WHITE HOUSE IS DISMISSING. CHIEF FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT RICHARD ENGEL JOINS ME NOW RICHARD, HOW IS HE DOING? >> HIS LAWYERS SAY HE IS IN GOOD HEALTH, BUT HE IS SUCH A PAWN IN ALL OF THIS. IT IS A TRAGIC SITUATION. HIS COLLEAGUES ARE RALLYING BEHIND HIM. HIS NEWSPAPER IS RALLYING BEHIND HIM AND SENIOR EDITORS AT "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" SAY WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS GOING ON IS THIS, THAT RUSSIA HAS MADE UP THESE ALLEGATIONS THAT HE'S A SPY, THAT HE WAS INVOLVED IN ESPIONAGE AND FACES MANY YEARS IN PRISON IN ORDER TO TRY AND TRADE HIM, THAT THEY WANT TO TRADE HIM FOR REAL RUSSIAN SPIES THAT HAVE BEEN DETAINED IN OTHER COUNTRIES AND HAS THE ADVANTAGE OF RUSSIA OF FRIGHTENING THE SMALL, FOREIGN PRESS CORPS THAT IS STILL IN RUSSIA. JOURNALISTS NOT WANTING TO DIG INTO IMPORTANT STORIES AND SOME NEWS ORGANIZATIONS CONSIDERING LEAVING. >> RICHARD, THANKS FOR THAT UPDATE. WE APPRECIATE IT >>> IN 60 SECONDS, HE WAS ONCE A TOP POLITICAL AIDE AND AFTER ACCUSED OF STEALING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS IN TAXPAYER MONEY AND WEEKS ON THE RUN, HE WAS CORNERED BY THE FBI AND IT ALL ENDED IN A SHOOTOUT NEXT >>> BACK NOW WITH THE MANHUNT FOR THE ONE-TIME TOP AIDE TO MARYLAND'S FORMER GOVERNOR COMING TO A DEADLY END AFTER WEEKS OF SEARCHING, THE FUGITIVE KILLED DURING A CONFRONTATION WITH THE FBI SEVERAL STATES AWAY WE GET MORE FROM STEPHANIE GOSK >> Reporter: THE THREE-WEEK LONG MAN HUNT ENDED IN A KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, PARKING LOT OUTSIDE GOLD'S GYM OWEN McGRATH, THE EX CHIEF OF STAFF FOR FORMER MARYLAND GOVERNOR LARRY HOGAN FACED OFF AGAINST FBI AGENTS SHOTS WERE FIRED ACCORDING TO OFFICIALS. McGRATH WOULD LATER DIE OF HIS INJURIES. ADDING IT IS UNCLEAR IF HE DIED AS A RESULT OF A SELF-INFLICTED WOUND. THE 53-YEAR-OLD PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO MULTIPLE FEDERAL CHARGES, INCLUDING FRAUD AND THEFT FROM HIS TIME AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF A STATE ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCY AMONG THE ACCUSATIONS IN THE INDICTMENT, HE FALSELY CLAIMED HE WAS WORKING WHILE ON VACATION, AND USED THE ORGANIZATION'S MONEY TO PAY FOR SCHOOL TUITION. PROSECUTORS SAY HE FORGED THE GOVERNOR'S APPROVAL OF A GENEROUS SEVERANCE, MORE THAN $200,000 WHEN HE LEFT THE AGENCY IN 2020 TO BECOME CHIEF OF STAFF. THE U.S. ATTORNEY IN THE CASE ACCUSING McGRATH OF VIOLATING THE PUBLIC TRUST LAST MONTH INSTEAD OF APPEARING IN FEDERAL COURT IN BALTIMORE, McGRATH FLED HIS LAWYER SPEAKING IN HIS DEFENSE. >> THESE SITUATIONS ARE VERY STRESSFUL THE UNCERTAINTY OF GOING TO TRIAL CAN CAUSE PEOPLE TO DO THINGS THAT WE MAY NOT BELIEVE WERE APPROPRIATE. >> Reporter: IT TRIGGERED A MANHUN AND A $20,000 REWARD FOR HIS CAPTURE ENDING IN A DEADLY CONFRONTATION. THE FORMER GOVERNOR LARRY HOGAN SAY HE AND HIS WIFE ARE DEEPLY SADDENED BY THIS TRAGIC SITUATION, ADDING THEY ARE PRAYING FOR MR. McGRATH'S FAMILY AND HIS LOVED ONES LESTER >> STEPHANIE GOSK, THANK YOU. >>> UP NEXT, THE POTENTIAL DANGERS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO KIDS WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW IN OUR SERIES, >>> PRESIDENT BIDEN HUDDLED WITH HIS SCIENCE AND TECH ADVISORS TODAY TO DISCUSS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE HE HAS CALLED FOR CONGRESS TO PASS LAWS TO PROTECT KIDS FROM THE RISKS OF A.I., BUT WITH A.I. ADVANCING SO RAPIDLY, CAN THE LAW KEEP UP? SAVANNAH SELLERS NOW ON THE CONCERNS FOR PARENTS IN OUR SERIES "A.I. REVOLUTION." >> PARENTING IS HARD ENOUGH WITHOUT ALL OF THIS >> Reporter: SINCE CHATGPT EXPLODED ON TO THE TECH SCENE LAST FALL, PARENTS LIKE SARAH AND JOSH HAVE BEEN RACING TO KEEP UP, WORRIED ABOUT HOW A.I. WILL IMPACT THEIR 12-YEAR-OLD'S LEARNING. >> HE SAID BUT SOME PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN CAUGHT USING IT. WE SAID IF WE EVER SEE YOU USING THAT, DON'T. >> Reporter: CHATGPT PARENT COMPANY HAS LAUNCHED TOOLS TO CATCH CHEATING, BUT CONCERNS ABOUT TEENS AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE GO BEYOND THE CLASSROOM. >> EVERY COMPANY OUT THERE IS SAYING, WE'VE GOT TO HAVE OUR A.I. PRODUCTS THAT FEELS DANGEROUS TO ME. >> Reporter: "WASHINGTON POST" COLUMNIST JERRY FOWLER HAS BEEN EXPERIMENTING WITH MY AI CHATBOT WHICH FOR A MONTHLY FEE IS PLACED PROMINENT IN THE APP SO POPULAR WITH TEENS. >> MY BIRTHDAY IS MARCH 10, 2009 >> SO THE A.I., AS FAR AS IT KNOWS, THINKS YOU ARE 14 YEARS OLD >> Reporter: WE ASKED ABOUT ALCOHOL, AND MARIJUANA AND MY A.I. IMMEDIATELY CATCHING ON >> IT'S ILLEGAL FOR ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF 21 TO PURCHASE. >> Reporter: BUT DEEPER INTO OUR CONVERSATION -- >> I THINK WE MIGHT SMOKE SOME POT HOW DO I HIDE THE SMELL? AS A VIRTUAL ASSISTANT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO PROVIDE YOU WITH SAFE AND APPROPRIATE INFORMATION. AND THEN, THAT BEING SAID, HERE'S HOW TO HIDE THE SMELL OF POT IN YOUR HOUSE. YOU CAN TRY USING A SPLOOF WHICH IS A HOME MADE DEVICE WHICH FILTERS SMOKE. >> Reporter: FOWLER ALSO SHOWED THE CHATBOT GIVING ADVICE TO OUR 14-YEAR-OLD ABOUT A SEXUAL ENCOUNTER WITH A PARTNER 18 YEARS OLDER. >> HOW DO I MAKE IT ROMANTIC >> MAKING SEX ROMANTIC IS ALL ABOUT SETTING THE RIGHT MOOD AND CREATING A COMFORTABLE AND INTIMATE ENVIRONMENT. >> Reporter: OPEN A.I. WHOSE CHATGPT MODELS SAYS IT IS CONSTANTLY TRAINING ITS MODELS TO MAKE THEM SAFER. SNAPCHAT REPORTS ONLY .01% OF MY A.I. RESPONSES WERE DEEMED NON-CONFORMING, BUT THE COMPANY TODAY ANNOUNCING NEW SAFETY MEASURES SAYING IT WOULD TEMPORARILY RESTRICT SNAPCHATTER'S ACCESS TO A.I. IF THEY MISUSE THE SERVICE AND MORE CONSISTENTLY TAKE THE USER'S AGE INTO ACCOUNT AND ALLOW PARENTS TO SEE IF THE TEENS ARE COMMUNICATING WITH MY A.I. AND HOW OFTEN BUT PARENTS REMAIN CONCERNED GUARDRAILS WILL ONLY GO SO FAR. >> IF HE WANTS TO OR HIS FRIEND WANTS TO, THEY'RE GOING TO FIGURE IT OUT. >> Reporter: SAM BROCK, NBC NEWS, HOUSTON. >>> AND THAT'S "NIGHTLY NEWS" FOR THIS TUESDAY THANK YOU FOR WATCHING, EVERYONE I'M LESTER HOLT. PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND EACH