09.09.2025 09:20
In Ireland, 37-year-old Warren Tierney postponed going to the doctor after asking an artificial intelligence about his sore throat and receiving a response of "no problem." When his pain became unbearable, Tierney went to the doctor and learned that he had advanced-stage esophageal cancer. Doctors stated that Tierney's chances of survival were quite low due to the late diagnosis.
A 37-year-old father of two, Warren Tierney, living in the Kerry region of Ireland, preferred to consult artificial intelligence instead of going to the doctor due to severe throat pain and difficulty swallowing for months. The answers he received from the questions he posed to ChatGPT changed his life.
ASKED CHAT GPT INSTEAD OF A DOCTOR
According to a report in DailyMail, the artificial intelligence did not consider Tierney's symptoms serious and stated that the likelihood of cancer was "very low." Trusting these words, Tierney postponed going to the doctor. However, when the pain became unbearable, he went to the hospital and experienced the shock of his life. Tierney was diagnosed with late-stage esophageal cancer.
LEARNED HE HAD ABOUT 5 YEARS LEFT TO LIVE
Doctors diagnosed Tierney with esophageal adenocarcinoma. He was devastated to learn that, due to the disease being detected at an advanced stage, he had an average of 5 years left to live. According to experts, treatment outcomes are extremely limited in cases where early diagnosis is not possible.
"THIS TECHNOLOGY TELLS YOU WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR"
Tierney described his experience by saying, "Trusting ChatGPT probably cost me a few months. This technology tells you what you want to hear, but not the truth."
WARNING FROM OPENAI
Following the incident, OpenAI reminded that artificial intelligence systems should not be used for medical diagnosis or treatment purposes. The company emphasized the vital importance of consulting specialist physicians for health issues.