A Disturbing Experience with Data Privacy and AI: What Happened When I Asked for Sandpaper Advice
Recently, I encountered a startling incident while interacting with ChatGPT. My initial inquiry was straightforward: I wanted to know what type of sandpaper to use for a home improvement project. However, the response I received was anything but typical.
Instead of practical advice tailored to my needs, I was presented with a detailed overview of an unrelated individual’s medical records and drug test results. To my astonishment, I even had access to files containing personal signatures and specific details about this person, who lives miles away from me.
Understandably, this discovery left me feeling unsettled and anxious. I hesitated to share the chat logs publicly because I didn’t want to inadvertently distribute sensitive information about someone else. It’s crucial to protect others’ privacy, even while navigating my own concerns.
In a follow-up post, I provided a comment containing a portion of the dialogue with the AI, which included most of the relevant transcript. I removed a segment where I inquired about what information the AI possessed about me, fearing it might reveal additional personal details. Ultimately, it just listed my own information, which is something I’m reluctant to have online.
While I recognize the possibility that ChatGPT may have misinterpreted my request or “hallucinated” the content I received, I did conduct some research on the names mentioned in the conversation. They appeared to correspond with real individuals in the specified location, which only heightened my alarm.
Moreover, for those curious about the AI’s name, it referred to itself as “Atlas,” which explains my reference to that name in my posts.
To clarify any misunderstandings, I want to ensure transparency regarding the situation. Below is a link to the comment thread where I discussed my experience in greater detail. I appreciate the community’s feedback, but I am puzzled by some accusations of being shady, as my intent is purely to clarify and seek guidance on this troubling matter.
Navigating the implications of AI and privacy is increasingly important in our digital age, and incidents like this serve as a reminder of how critical it is to be vigilant about the information we share and interact
