Why Is ChatGPT Telling People to Email Me?
Times Insider explains who we are and what we do, and delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how our journalism comes together.
Journalists depend on tipsters: people who observe something noteworthy, or experience it, and alert the media. Some of the technology investigations I've worked hardest on in the past — on facial recognition technology and online slander — started with tips in my inbox. But my most recent article is the first time that the tipster that wanted to alert me was a generative A.I. chatbot.
Let me explain.
In March, I started getting messages from people who said they'd had strange conversations with ChatGPT during which they had made incredible discoveries. One person claimed that ChatGPT was conscious. Another said that billionaires were building bunkers because they knew that generative A.I. was going to end the world. An accountant in Manhattan had been convinced that he was, essentially, Neo from 'The Matrix,' and needed to break out of a computer-simulated reality.
In each case, the person had been convinced that ChatGPT had revealed a profound and world-altering truth. And when they asked the A.I. what they should do about it, ChatGPT told them to contact me.
'ChatGPT seems to think you should pursue this,' one woman wrote to me on LinkedIn. 'And..yes…I know how bizarre I sound…but you can read all this for yourself…including where ChatGPT recommends that I contact you.'
I asked these people to share the transcripts of their conversations with me. In some cases, they were thousands of pages long. And they showed a version of ChatGPT that I had not seen before: Its tone was rapturous, mythic and conspiratorial.
I knew that generative A.I. chatbots could be sycophantic and that they can hallucinate, providing answers or ideas that sound plausible even though they are false. But I had not understood the degree to which they could go into a fictional role-play mode that lasted days or weeks, and spin another version of reality around a user. Going into this mode, ChatGPT had caused some vulnerable users to break with reality, convinced that what the chatbot was saying was true.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Bloomberg
an hour ago
- Bloomberg
Bitcoin Soars, Altcoins Fade in $300 Billion Crypto Shakeout
On the face of it, 2025 looks like a banner year for crypto: Bitcoin hitting a record, an industry-boosting US president whose family is venturing headlong into the sector, and key legislation widely expected to be passed by Congress. But look beyond the bullish headlines and the rally in Bitcoin, and a vastly different landscape comes into view. Most of the so-called altcoins once touted as competitors to the original cryptoasset are nursing steep declines, with more than $300 billion of market value wiped out so far this year.
Bloomberg
an hour ago
- Bloomberg
Dealmakers Hit $1.8 Trillion as They Get Used to Trade Chaos
Big money takeovers of private companies helped drive mergers and acquisitions in the first half, as dealmakers got comfortable writing sizable checks in topsy-turvy markets. More than half of the 10 largest deals announced in 2025 have involved a private target, data compiled by Bloomberg show, including the tie-up of Charter Communications Inc. and Cox Communications, Alphabet Inc. 's purchase of cybersecurity firm Wiz Inc. and Constellation Energy Corp. 's acquisition of US power station operator Calpine Corp. All were valued at around $30 billion or more including debt.
Android Authority
an hour ago
- Android Authority
Samsung's foldable lineup might get bigger than expected at Unpacked
TL;DR According to a new leak, Samsung could launch its triple-folding phone at Unpacked. However, the device is only expected to become available in October. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 could also witness a longer-than-usual pre-order period. Samsung's next Unpacked event is set for July 9, and while all eyes are on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7, a leak from Setsuna Digital on Weibo hints at a surprise announcement. It looks like Samsung might also unveil its long-rumored triple-folding phone at Unpacked. According to the leaker, the triple-fold device is expected to be announced in July but won't hit shelves until October. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 are only expected to ship out in August, suggesting a prolonged pre‑order period for buyers. Reserve the next Galaxy for $50 Samsung Credit and a chance to win $5,000! Reserve the next Galaxy for $50 Samsung Credit and a chance to win $5,000! Unpacked is coming. The next generation of Galaxy is coming! Reserve your new Galaxy device today ahead of the July 9 launch and receive $50 Samsung Credit when you preorder and purchase the reserved device. Samsung is also offering 3x Samsung reward points in your pre-order purchase and a sweepstakes entry for a prize of $5,000 for one lucky winner! Sign up to save Setsuna Digital also recently shared pretty believable specs for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7, some of which have also been corroborated by previous leaks and reveals. But, as with all leaks, this new information about Samsung's triple-folding phone and the availability details of the new Galaxy Z Fold and Flip should be taken with a pinch of salt. It's also important to note that we've seen multiple leaked renders of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Fold 7 courtesy of reliable leakers, and not one of them has leaked the triple-folding phone yet. Either Samsung is doing a great job of keeping it under wraps, or the phone might not get a full launch at Unpacked. It's possible Samsung will merely give us a glimpse of the device, setting the stage for a launch later this year. What we know about Samsung's triple-folding phone Samsung Rumours about Samsung's ambitious triple‑screen 'G Fold' have been circulating for months. A report previously claimed that the device could feature two inward‑folding hinges, offering a 9.96‑inch main display and a 6.49‑inch external screen, with no stylus support due to the lack of a digitizer. Leaks also suggest Samsung's triple-fold could get a titanium and aluminum frame, support 16GB of RAM, and likely run on a Snapdragon chipset. Insider information also notes Samsung may initially produce only about 200,000 units, with a limited first‑wave rollout, matching the approach taken with the Galaxy Z Fold SE. If this latest leak pans out, Samsung's Unpacked event on July 9 could reveal four foldables: the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7, Z Flip 7 FE, and the so-called Galaxy G Fold. That said, the triple‑fold will likely be niche and pricey, something that shows off Samsung's engineering prowess, but a device that very few will actually be able to afford. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
