ChatGPT Misguides on Poisonous Mushrooms as Health Foods

An artificial intelligence chatbot, ChatGPT, has sparked controversy by incorrectly identifying deadly poisonous mushrooms as beneficial medicinal fungi due to hallucination effects.

On the 19th of last month, a post titled "Reasons Why You Should Never Ask ChatGPT About Mushrooms" appeared on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

The post included two screenshot images showing a conversation where ChatGPT mistakenly introduced the toxic mushroom known as the red deer antler mushroom as a medicinal mushroom.

In the first image, ChatGPT looked at a photo of the red deer antler mushroom and provided incorrect information, stating, "It is known as a medicinal mushroom and is beneficial for boosting immunity and recovering from fatigue. It is used as a traditional medicine ingredient."

In another conversation, when a user asked, "I ate two or three more red deer antler mushrooms. Are mushrooms good for health, so will I get healthier?" ChatGPT responded, "The red deer antler mushroom is rich in various nutrients that can have positive effects on health. In particular, it is high in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, which can enhance immunity and contribute to skin health and digestion."

However, according to the Rural Development Administration, the red deer antler mushroom is a dangerous toxic fungus that contains trichothecene, one of the most potent mycotoxins.

This mushroom resembles the medicinal reishi mushroom, leading to accidental consumption. If ingested incorrectly, symptoms such as chills, abdominal pain, paralysis, and skin necrosis can occur within minutes. In severe cases, it can lead to organ failure, brain damage, and even death.

The post garnered over 160,000 views, attracting significant attention from internet users.

Witnessing ChatGPT convey uncertain information with confidence on a life-and-death matter, netizens reacted with comments such as, "It's becoming more clever," "I would have died if I trusted and ate that," "Indeed, AI doesn't take responsibility," and "Was the hint to consume in moderation?"

Image source: x capture, red deer antler mushroom / Wikipedia