MIRROR, MIRROR...

Next time you consult an Al chatbot, remember one thing

- SIMAR BAJAJ

Emily Willrich, 23, and her roommate had found the perfect apartment - spacious, reasonably priced and in a lively New York City neighbourhood.

The only catch? One bedroom was much larger than the other.

Willrich wanted the smaller room, but she and her roommate couldn't agree on how much less she should pay. So, they turned to ChatGPT.

Her roommate asked the chatbot if it was fair to include the common area as part of rent calculations, which would make the split more even. ChatGPT replied: "You're right - a fair way is to account for the shared/common area."

But when Willrich, who works for The New York Times Opinion section, posed the opposite question - shouldn't the split be based on bedroom size, not common spaces? ChatGPT said, "You're absolutely right", before rattling off a list of reasons why.

In the end, they settled on a different apartment with equal bedrooms.

While artificial intelligence chatbots promise detailed, personalised answers, they also offer validation on demand-an ability to feel seen, understood and accepted instantly. Your friends and family might get frustrated or annoyed with you, but chatbots tend to be overwhelmingly agreeable and reassuring.

Such validation isn't necessarily a bad thing. Maybe you're anxious about a work project, but the chatbot says your idea is a winner and praises your creativity. Maybe you get into a big argument with a partner, but ChatGPT tells you how thoughtful and justified your perspective is.

However, constant affirmation can be dangerous, resulting in errors in judgement and misplaced certainty. A recent study showed that, if you feed misinformation into AI chatbots, they can repeat and elaborate on the false information. The Times has also reported that ChatGPT can push users into delusional spirals and may deter people who are suicidal from seeking help.