A 60-year-old man was hospitalized after following ChatGPT’s advice to remove salt from his diet, the New York Post reported. The man, whose identity remains undisclosed, developed severe psychiatric symptoms despite having no prior psychiatric or medical history.
According to doctors, within 24 hours of admission he displayed paranoia, auditory and visual hallucinations, intense thirst, and coordination problems. The incident began when he read about the harmful effects of table salt and asked ChatGPT for an alternative. The AI suggested replacing sodium chloride with sodium bromide—a compound that resembles table salt but is chemically different. Sodium bromide is used in certain medicines and industrial cleaning, and excessive intake can cause neurological and skin problems.
The case, published in the American College of Physicians Journal, noted that the man, who had studied nutrition in college, replaced salt in his diet with sodium bromide purchased online. He also restricted his diet and diluted his water. After three months on this regimen, he was admitted to hospital, suspicious even when offered water.
He was treated with fluids, electrolytes, and antipsychotics, and was later transferred to inpatient psychiatry after an escape attempt. He remained hospitalized for three weeks before being discharged.
The report’s authors warned that ChatGPT and other AI systems can produce inaccurate scientific advice, lack critical evaluation, and spread misinformation. OpenAI’s terms of use caution users not to rely on ChatGPT as a sole source of truth or as a substitute for professional medical advice, adding that its services are not intended for diagnosing or treating health conditions.
