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ChatGPT
does
have a health warning – but it’s pathetic
Robert Hegarty is right that ChatGPT should carry a health warning because it’s clearly not suited for therapy, or even relatively mild relationship advice (Star Letter, Issue 719). The thing is, it does have a health warning of sorts – ask it a question, wait for its reply, then look at the bottom: ‘ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info’ (see screenshot above right).
But as warnings go, that’s pathetic. First, it’s tiny and hidden at the bottom. Second, it doesn’t say what kind of mistakes ChatGPT makes. Are these silly but harmless factual errors, like claiming Lord Lucan rode Shergar in the Derby? Or more serious errors that could ruin people’s lives?
ChatGPT is enjoying its moment in the sun. But it must realise that regulators and authorities are coming after it with rules that’ll restrict what people can use it for. That’ll probably be a good thing.
Ron Hammil
CA SAYS
We agree with Ron that this warning should be more prominent, but at least ChatGPT is now adding stricter safeguards for teenage users (see page 9). We’re not convinced this goes far enough though, and a backlash against ChatGPT would force it to place more stringent rules on how young people can use it.