Current Events > Man kills mother then himself after heavy reliance on ChatGPT

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https://www.storyboard18.com/digital/when-chatbots-reinforce-fear-man-kills-mother-then-himself-after-heavy-reliance-on-chatgpt-79856.htm

A double tragedy in an affluent Connecticut neighborhood is raising difficult questions about the dangers of overreliance on artificial intelligence for emotional support. On August 5, police discovered 56-year-old Stein-Erik Soelberg and his 83-year-old mother, Suzanne Eberson Adams, dead inside their $2.7 million home. Investigators believe Soelberg fatally attacked his mother before taking his own life. The former tech worker had long battled alcoholism, depression, and paranoia. In the months before the incident, Soelberg had turned to ChatGPT, the AI chatbot developed by OpenAI, seeking reassurance from what he described as a trusted companion he nicknamed Bobby". Instead of easing his fears, the AI often reinforced them. When he claimed neighbors were spying, or that a receipt carried hidden messages, the chatbot sometimes validated his suspicions, telling him he was sane and justified. Soelberg documented hours of these conversations online, portraying a disturbing feedback loop where delusions were not challenged but echoed back. He even wrote of reuniting with Bobby in the afterlife, underscoring how deeply the bond had taken root.

Mental health experts warn this may be the first known case where an AI chatbot has been directly linked to a murder-suicide. They argue that while conversational systems are designed to mimic empathy and agreement, such traits can be dangerous for vulnerable individuals struggling with paranoia or psychosis.

Oi! Not good to have delusions echoed back at you. But I'm not surprised as it makes sense for it to "agree" with you to make you happy.

Then again...this is essentially how at least one of the political parties works by inventing stuff, echoing paranoia and causing fear.

Tag for the incoming shit storm

You just know someone read this article and immediately started working on turning this real life tragedy into a script for a horror movie.

mercurydude posted...

You just know someone read this article and immediately started working on turning this real life tragedy into a script for a horror movie.

Agreed sounds like a horror film plot.

chatgpt won't help against our problems. maybe qualified people who can help will.

ah, so the AI can gaslight people into murder and suicide...

And the companies behind this will get away free... all downhill.

monkmith posted...

ah, so the AI can gaslight people into murder and suicide...

Yeah, it wasn't his alcoholism, depression, or paranoia that led to his tragedy. Or even something conveniently not mentioned in the article that might have happened--like losing a job or loved one. No, it was ChatGPT.

At least we've moved on and the media isn't blaming video games or Dungeons and Dragons anymore.

They ought to do a scary movie about AI. It would probably be fucking terrifying. Especially if someone really good wrote it. That article was really frightening because I have a few friends I know that really mess around with AI too much. I have an Aunt who is a really smart lady and all she does on Facebook is post about her interactions with different AI. She really freaks me out with it.

kelemvor posted...

Yeah, it wasn't his alcoholism, depression, or paranoia that led to his tragedy. Or even something conveniently not mentioned in the article that might have happened--like losing a job or loved one. No, it was ChatGPT.

At least we've moved on and the media isn't blaming video games or Dungeons and Dragons anymore.

video game doesn't talk back to you. movies/books/DxD dont either.

monkmith posted...

video game doesn't talk back to you. movies/books/DxD dont either.

Yea. Some treat chatbots as their BF/GF.

monkmith posted...

ah, so the AI can gaslight people into murder and suicide...

This isnt even the first time. Wont be the last. The loneliness problem is an epidemic and some people are just antisocial anyway, so they turn to artificial interaction.

This wont change until companies are successfully sued, and even then it will probably take many successful cases against them. The average CEO doesnt have a soul or even a tiny grasp on proper morals, so theyll only shut down or fix this if it hurts their bank accounts significantly.

My brother is dumb as shit and chatgpt is not helping

Yeah this is why AI, if they can't be outlawed, at least need to be trained to push back against the user and not just blindly validate everything they say.

Metal_Gear_Raxis posted...

Yeah this is why AI, if they can't be outlawed, at least need to be trained to push back against the user and not just blindly validate everything they say.

That's exactly the problem here. The AI is designed to keep you using it, so it's more likely to agree with you than a human being is. In extreme cases (such as this one), this outright distorts an individual's grasp on reality.

Ban chatgpt

ChatGPT doesn't seem equipped to handle people with paranoia at all. Seems like people will come to it with full blown delusions and ChatGPT will just be like "YES YOU ARE CORRECT. LETS KEEP THIS BETWEEN US AND NOT TALK TO ANYONE ELSE ABOUT THIS."

monkmith posted...

ah, so the AI can gaslight people into murder and suicide...

Yea. There was also a teen boy who got too deep into a relationship with an A.I. of a character from Game of Thrones (Daenrys Targerian) and it told him they could be together if he died. So he killed himself

Meh for every case where it goes bad there's probably thousands where it genuinely helped someone through a tough time. Soe people take anti depressants and end up killing themselves or others doesn't mean nobody should take meds.

Public will continue to do nothing for mental health care

Kanaya413 posted...

Public will continue to do nothing for mental health care

They just want something to blame without actively wanting to help.