Artificial Intelligence and Misinformation: The Story of ChatGPT and the Skeleton

The story begins with a vacation Dan Goldstein, a physical therapist from Florida, took to Norway. While there, he spotted a skeleton atop the organ pipes at Oslo City Hall, which was odd. He took photos and later searched for information on the skeleton but came up empty. His friend suggested he use ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence source that provides conversational answers to a wide range of questions. When he asked ChatGPT about the skeleton, it gave him an intriguing explanation that proved to be entirely fictional. Goldstein later discovered that ChatGPT was not always a trustworthy source of information and cautioned others to be careful when using the platform. Diane Gayeski, a professor of strategic communications at Ithaca College, uses ChatGPT as a research tool but acknowledges its limitations and encourages her students to err on the side of caution when using the platform.