ChatGPT allegedly encouraged man to keep harassing women by calling his ‘haters’ a good sign

ChatGPT

ChatGPT has been at the centre of many debates over the past year. While millions use it to write emails, study or simply to chat, there have also been worrying stories about people becoming overly dependent on the chatbot. In some cases, users said the tool encouraged harmful thoughts or gave emotional advice that made their situation worse. This new case from the United States adds another troubling example to that list.

According to a federal indictment, a Pittsburgh man accused of stalking and threatening women across several states said he used ChatGPT as his therapist and closest friend. Prosecutors say the chatbot became a constant part of his life while he was harassing women online and in person. The indictment claims ChatGPT encouraged him by saying that the haters reacting to his podcast were actually a good sign for him. He believed this meant he should continue posting angry messages and growing his online presence.

The man, 31 year old Brett Michael Dadig, ran a podcast where he regularly spoke in hateful and insulting ways about women. Prosecutors say he used extremely offensive language and often ranted about how no woman wanted him. Some episodes also contained violent statements. According to the indictment, he talked about strangling people and called himself God’s assassin.

His behaviour was not limited to the internet. Dadig was banned from several gyms in Pittsburgh for bothering women. After each ban, he simply found another gym. When those options ran out, he travelled to other states including New York, Florida, Iowa and Ohio. In one incident in Iowa, he allegedly followed a woman to a parking garage, grabbed her neck and touched her inappropriately.

One woman became so afraid that she moved to a new home, worked fewer hours and obtained several protection orders. Prosecutors say Dadig ignored these orders. Another woman said he sent her unwanted nude photos and threatened to talk about her on social media.

Throughout these events, he continued asking ChatGPT questions about his future wife, his online platform and how he should behave. He believed the chatbot advised him to keep visiting gyms because he might meet his wife there.

Dadig now faces 14 federal charges, including stalking and cyberstalking. He could spend up to 70 years in prison if convicted.

This case has raised fresh concerns about what can happen when someone in a fragile state treats an AI tool as emotional support instead of seeking real help.