Latest news with #Mery
NDTV
4 days ago
- NDTV
Influencer Couple Misses Dream Vacation Flight After Following ChatGPT Advice
What was meant to be a romantic getaway to Puerto Rico for Spanish influencer Mery Caldass and her partner, Alejandro Cid, ended before it even began. Their mistake? Trusting a chatbot for the final word on travel paperwork. A Single Mistake Mery, who shares her travels and lifestyle with thousands of followers, decided to speed up her pre-trip research by asking ChatGPT if they needed a visa. The answer was a simple "no", which seemed clear enough. But the nuance got lost. For Spanish passport holders, and others from countries in the US Visa Waiver Program - "no visa" doesn't mean "no requirements at all". Travellers still have to apply online for an ESTA, the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, before boarding a flight. Believing they were fully prepared, the couple went ahead and booked flights, hotels, and activities. Everything was set until the airport check-in counter became the scene of an abrupt reality check. Without an approved ESTA, boarding was not an option. The Viral Video Mery then shared a video on TikTok and YouTube the next day showing her visibly upset, walking through the terminal while Alejandro tried to calm her down. "I always do a lot of research, but I asked ChatGPT and they said no," referring to the visa requirement, she shares on her video. She even jokes that maybe the chatbot got back at her, " don't trust that one anymore because sometimes I insult him. I call him a bastard, you're useless, but inform me well ... that's his revenge" The clip quickly went viral, attracting thousands of views and sparking heated debates in the comments. Some criticised the couple for relying entirely on AI instead of double-checking official travel information. "If you're crossing an ocean and base your entire trip on what a chatbot says, you're already asking for trouble," wrote one user, according to NYT Post. Others were more sympathetic, pointing out that the answer wasn't wrong, just incomplete. The confusion, they argued, may have been in how the question was framed. Why Esta Matters When Visiting Puerto Rico Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States, which means it follows the same immigration rules as the mainland. Nationals from Visa Waiver Program countries, like Spain, do not need a traditional visa They must still complete an ESTA application before travel ESTA is mandatory even if the destination is only Puerto Rico Airlines won't allow passengers to board without it, since entry into US territory would be illegal Missing this step meant Mery and Alejandro's holiday was over before it began. A Cautionary Tale For Mery and Alejandro, the gap between "no visa" and "ESTA required" proved costly - not just in money, but in lost experiences and disappointment. Their story is a cautionary tale for anyone tempted to swap official checks for AI convenience. Tools like ChatGPT can give quick answers, but they don't always deliver the full picture - especially when rules are complex or regularly updated. Visa requirements, customs checks, and other travel regulations change often. The safest approach is to verify directly with an official government source, particularly when it comes to entry documents.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sicilian Documentary ‘The Castle' Picked Up by Fandango Ahead of CPH:DOX World Premiere as Trailer Debuts (EXCLUSIVE)
'The Castle,' which has its world premiere in the main competition section of Copenhagen documentary festival CPH:DOX, has been picked up by the sales arm of Italy's Fandango. The film is described by the festival as a 'charming Sicilian adventure with a bittersweet aftertaste.' The trailer debuts below. 'The Castle' follows three 11-year-olds, Angelo, Mery and Rosy, who live in Danisinni, an isolated neighborhood in Palermo. Driven by a desire for adventure, the group decides to explore an abandoned kindergarten in the middle of the district. More from Variety 'Supernatural,' About Shaman and His Skeptical Son, Acquired by Taskovski Ahead of Premiere at Thessaloniki Documentary Festival (EXCLUSIVE) '2025 Oscar Nominated Short Films: Documentary' Review: Take Your Pick Between Endemic Violence and Escapist Music Trudie Styler on Making Doc 'An Ode to Naples,' Getting Sting to Make a Cameo and Defying the City's Stereotypes: 'Immerse Yourself and Do Not Feel Afraid' Amid the rubble, they discover a safe space where they can escape the gaze of others. It is a secret shelter where they can let their imaginations run wild without feeling judged. However, the pressures from the outside world threaten to endanger this island of freedom. The film is directed by Danny Biancardi, Stefano La Rosa and Virginia Nardelli. It is produced by Nadège Labé at La Société du Sensible in France and Giulia Campagna and Stefano Collizzolli at ZaLab Film in Italy. Commenting on their intention, the filmmakers state: 'Our approach blends observation and participatory creation, allowing the three children to represent themselves and tell their story freely.' They add: 'It's the story of a friendship and how, thanks to it, they try to face adulthood together.' La Rosa worked as first assistant director on Stefano Savona's 'Samouni Road,' winner of the Oeil D'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2018. Biancardi and Nardelli collaborated with Savona on the documentary 'Le Mura of Bergamo,' which was presented at the 2023 Berlinale in the Encounters section. CPH:DOX, also known as Copenhagen Intl. Documentary Film Festival, runs from March 19 to 30. Best of Variety What's Coming to Disney+ in March 2025 What's Coming to Netflix in March 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
