Couple follows ChatGPT for travel tips, what happened at the airport was a shock for them and a big lesson for others
People are using AI chatbots for guidance. But experts warn against over-reliance. A Spanish couple missed their flight to Puerto Rico. ChatGPT gave them wrong visa advice. In another case, a man was hospitalised. He followed ChatGPT's dietary advice. He replaced table salt with a toxic substance. These incidents highlight the risks of trusting AI blindly.
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to advance rapidly, more people worldwide are turning to chatbots for guidance. However, experts caution against over-relying on AI tools for everyday decisions and problem-solving—a warning highlighted by a Spanish influencer couple's recent mishap. The pair ended up missing their flight after following travel advice from ChatGPT. — BrightlyAgain (@BrightlyAgain)
In a viral video, Mery Caldass is seen crying while her boyfriend, Alejandro Cid, tries to comfort her as they walk through the airport. 'Look, I always do a lot of research, but I asked ChatGPT and they said no,' Caldass explained when asked if they needed a visa to visit Puerto Rico for a Bad Bunny concert. She said the chatbot assured them no visa was necessary but failed to mention that they required an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation). Once at the airport, airline staff informed them they could not board without it. 'I don't trust that one anymore because sometimes I insult him [ChatGPT]. I call him a bastard, you're useless, but inform me well that's his revenge," she added, suggesting the chatbot held a grudge.This is not the first time AI chatbot advice has gone wrong. According to a case study in the American College of Physicians Journals, a 60-year-old man was hospitalised after seeking dietary advice from ChatGPT on how to eliminate salt (sodium chloride) from his meals due to health concerns. Following the chatbot's suggestion, the man replaced table salt with sodium bromide—a substance once used in medicines during the early 1900s but now known to be toxic in large doses. Doctors reported he developed bromism as a result. "He had replaced sodium chloride with sodium bromide obtained from the internet after consultation with ChatGPT, in which he had read that chloride can be swapped with bromide, though likely for other purposes, such as cleaning," the report stated.
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