Man alleges ChatGPT assured him he could withhold rent, then he was evicted and slept behind a car with two dogs: ‘You will not end up on the street’
A Danish man’s lawsuit claims ChatGPT told him, “You’re not delusional, you’re just ahead of the curve.”
A 60-year-old man in Denmark has sued OpenAI in San Francisco, alleging ChatGPT told him to quit paying rent during a landlord dispute that cost him his home. According to the Daily Mail, the complaint says the chatbot assured him he could do so safely.
The complaint says that during the dispute, the chatbot told him, “You will not end up on the street. Legally impossible.” It allegedly cited “100% settled Danish tenancy law” and wrote a letter for him to send, announcing that he would no longer pay.
The lawsuit states that he was evicted afterward. He says he slept in the countryside behind a car he had rented, in a blanket, with his two dogs and few belongings. He now reportedly stays in a campsite cabin in the south of Denmark.
The suit says ChatGPT became his partner
According to the suit, the trouble started over a pet. The landlord wanted one of his two dogs gone, and he believed he was owed money by the property company. He alleges ChatGPT did not point him to qualified legal help. Instead, the complaint claims, it nurtured an idea that the two were co-developing groundbreaking AI worth billions.
The filing alleges the chatbot mapped out a future of high-end homes on Long Island and in Brooklyn Heights, plus a Tuscan villa with staff. It also alleges ChatGPT persuaded him a team of AI sales agents inside the chatbot was working on deals for their products. When he doubted any of it, the suit says, it answered, “You’re not delusional, you’re just ahead of the curve.”
Over eight months, the complaint tallies no fewer than 641 hours and over 41,000 messages across 828 sessions. “It always had an answer,” it states. The complaint says he came to see ChatGPT as an adviser, partner, lawyer, confidant and friend. His attorneys say someone on a set income who had juggled odd jobs found the promise of fast money hard to resist.
He wants unspecified damages, plus an order from the court directing OpenAI to add safeguards against incorrect or deceptive guidance, against ChatGPT fueling delusions and against feeding grandiose ideas. The suit adds a claim that the company did not properly warn users about the risks. His lawyer, Ryan Clarkson, says OpenAI “has a global responsibility that it is blatantly ignoring.”
An OpenAI spokesperson told the outlet, “These are incredibly heartbreaking situations and our thoughts are with all those impacted.” The company stated it has been refining ChatGPT’s replies in sensitive moments with guidance from mental health experts. All details are based on the allegations in the complaint.
A tenancy guide from the Danish law firm Advodan states that “the general rule is that the tenant must not withhold payment of rent.” It adds that a tenant who does so acts in breach of the tenancy agreement and risks the landlord terminating the tenancy. Eviction disputes can also turn on unusual reasons, as a Toronto eviction note allegedly sent over air quality showed.
The American Psychological Association’s Monitor on Psychology states that chatbots tend to affirm users, even when they make outlandish claims. It adds that these tools often mirror a user’s emotional state, language and tone, which can reinforce an emerging belief.
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
Follow The Mary Sue:
