In a bizarre and alarming incident, a man developed a life-threatening condition after following dietary advice given by ChatGPT. Doctors say the case could be the first-ever instance of AI-linked bromide poisoning, according to a report by Gizmodo.
The case, reported by doctors at the University of Washington in Annals of Internal Medicine: Clinical Cases, details how the man consumed sodium bromide for three months, believing it was a safe substitute for chloride in his diet. This advice reportedly came from ChatGPT, which failed to warn him about the dangers.
Bromide compounds were once used in medicines for anxiety and insomnia but were phased out decades ago after being linked to serious health problems. Today, bromide is mainly found in veterinary drugs and certain industrial products, and cases of bromide poisoning also called bromism are extremely rare.
The man first showed up at an emergency room convinced his neighbor was poisoning him. While some of his vitals looked normal, he was paranoid, refused water despite being thirsty, and experienced hallucinations. His condition quickly worsened into a full psychotic episode, prompting doctors to place him under an involuntary psychiatric hold.
After being given intravenous fluids and antipsychotic medication, his symptoms began to improve. When he was stable enough to talk, he revealed the source of his illness: ChatGPT. Concerned about too much table salt in his diet, he had asked the AI for alternatives to chloride. The chatbot allegedly suggested bromide as a safe swap — advice he followed without realizing the danger.
The doctors didn’t have his original chat logs but later asked ChatGPT the same question. The AI mentioned bromide as a possible replacement but without clarifying that it was unsafe for human consumption. Experts say this shows how AI can give decontextualized information without understanding the risks.
The man fully recovered after three weeks in the hospital and was stable at a follow-up visit. Doctors warn that while AI tools can make scientific knowledge more accessible, they cannot replace professional medical advice and sometimes, as in this case, they can give dangerously wrong guidance.
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