Did ChatGPT Encourage a Violent Stalker?

A federal grand jury in Pittsburgh indicted Brett Michael Dadig, 31, last week for over a dozen counts of cyberstalking, interstate stalking, and interstate threats.

The Details: The indictment mentions eleven victims from Florida, Iowa, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania – where Dadig is a resident. It includes five counts of cyberstalking, six counts of interstate stalking, and three counts of interstate threats. "Relying on advice from an artificial intelligence chatbot [ChatGPT], Dadig attempted to meet women at gyms," stated a Department of Justice (DOJ) press release. "Dadig thereafter harassed, intimidated, and threatened the women and gym employees in posts on social media, on his podcast, and in phone calls." He reportedly posted online, "Aliases stay rotating, moves stay evolving," and he violated both Protection from Abuse (PFA) orders that two of the women had against him. Dadig, who reportedly believed he was a social media "influencer," was previously brought into custody (where he remains) on three counts of cyberstalking in November. The FBI led the most recent investigation, and Assistant US Attorney Nicole Vasquez Schmitt is set to prosecute the case. 

Chatbot Or "Best Friend": "Dadig viewed ChatGPT's responses as encouragement to continue his harassing behavior," the indictment states. Dadig spoke of frequently using the chatbot, which he reportedly called his "therapist" and "best friend." First Assistant US Attorney Troy Rivetti asserted that Dadig "weaponiz[ed] modern technology."

For Context: ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence technologies remain a worldwide point of conversation and controversy. A family in California filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, ChatGPT's owner, in August, alleging that their teenage son used the chatbot as a "suicide coach." In a court filing response in November, the company pointed to "misuse, unauthorized use, unintended use, unforeseeable use, and/or improper use of ChatGPT" and denounced all liability.

How The Media Covered It: This story was scarcely covered by media outlets across the political spectrum, and AllSides did not find original coverage from outlets on the left. New York Post (Lean Right bias) detailed some of the more graphic allegations against Dadig, such as "threaten[ing] a woman by saying he would break her jaw and 'every motherf–king finger on both hands.'" Ars Technica (Center) also noted such allegations and emphasized other instances of harm allegedly tied to the use of ChatGPT. It also noted alleged efforts by OpenAI to make ChatGPT less emotionally affirming. "Researchers found that therapybots, including ChatGPT, fueled delusions and gave dangerous advice," the outlet stated. It specifically highlighted the term "AI psychosis." 

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