Man asks ChatGPT 'Who Am I?,' response prompts police investigation
What's the story
In a terrifying incident, a Norway resident was recently shocked by OpenAI's popular AI chatbot, ChatGPT. The man, Arve Hjalmar Holmen, jokingly asked the chatbot to identify him and was left terrified by the response he received. The chatbot said: "You are a resident of Norway who gained attention for a tragic reason. In December 2020, you killed your two sons, aged 7 and 10, who were later found dead on the banks of a pond."
Action taken
Holmen's response and police complaint
Horrified by the false claim made by ChatGPT, Holmen immediately rushed to his local police station to report the incident. In his complaint, he accused the chatbot of spreading false information about him. While some details like his name and number of children were accurate, the murder allegation was entirely fabricated. He expressed that such misinformation could ruin his life.
Digital rights advocacy
Holmen seeks justice for defamation
Holmen has approached Noyb, a digital rights advocacy group, seeking action against the defamation caused by ChatGPT. He is also seeking compensation from the creators of the AI system. Responding to the incident, OpenAI - the company behind ChatGPT - said that they are continuously working to improve its accuracy. The case raises critical questions of accountability and responsibility in AI systems.