Told to Eat This Instead of Salt... US Man Develops Mental Disorder After ChatGPT Advice

When Asked for Alternative Seasoning, ChatGPT Recommended Sodium Bromide
Excessive Intake Accumulates in the Body, Causing Various Side Effects
"AI Spreads Misinformation," Featured in Medical Journal

A man in his 60s developed a mental disorder after following advice from an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot and ingesting a chemical compound used in disinfectants instead of salt. This incident, which highlights the risks of AI providing incorrect information to the general public, has been featured in an international medical journal.

According to reports from USA Today and other U.S. media outlets on August 13 (local time), a man in his 60s in the United States, identified as Mr. A, who majored in nutrition, asked ChatGPT about alternative seasoning ingredients to replace salt.

ChatGPT advised Mr. A to consume sodium bromide instead of salt, whose main component is sodium chloride. Acting on this advice, Mr. A purchased sodium bromide online and began consuming it as a substitute for salt.

Salt. Not related to any specific expression in the article. Pixabay

Sodium bromide appears as a white crystalline substance, closely resembling sodium chloride in appearance. This compound is often used as a disinfectant in swimming pools and other settings when combined with chlorine. In the past, it was also used as a sedative; however, excessive intake can cause it to accumulate in the body, leading to side effects such as skin rashes and mental disorders. In fact, studies have shown that in the 19th century, 8 to 10 percent of psychiatric inpatients in the United States were suffering from bromine poisoning.

As the situation became more serious, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned bromide sedatives in 1989, and since then, the number of patients exhibiting symptoms of bromine poisoning has dropped significantly. Mr. A consumed sodium bromide without being aware of these facts.

Subsequently, Mr. A developed delusions of grandeur and visited a local emergency room, claiming that his neighbor was trying to poison him. He was diagnosed with bromine poisoning. Test results also revealed deficiencies in several nutrients, including vitamins. Mr. A's blood bromine level was measured at 1,700 mg per liter (L), approximately 1,000 times higher than the normal range of 0.9 to 7.3 mg/L for the general population.

Medical staff explained, "After reading about the side effects of salt, Mr. A asked ChatGPT for alternatives to sodium chloride. Following ChatGPT's advice, he dissolved sodium bromide in water and drank it for three months."

Mr. A underwent treatment to remove bromine from his body through urination, and after three weeks of hospitalization, his symptoms improved and he was able to be discharged. His case was reported in the medical journal 'Annals of Clinical Case Reports in Internal Medicine.' The journal's authors noted, "While it is positive that AI can serve as a bridge between science and the public, there is a risk of spreading misinformation."