Artificial intelligence language and writing models, like ChatGPT and Grok on social media X, have become an integral part of work and daily life in most of the world. Although admittedly their measured use can be beneficial for saving time in workplaces, an uncritical dependence, or even worse blindly trusting their responses about complex personal problems, can lead to some bizarre outcomes.
Case in point, an unprecedented incident in Greece, where a woman filed for divorce after receiving a response from ChatGPT that convinced her her husband was having an affair. The couple, who had been married for 12 years with two children, ended their relationship after the AI-powered assistant allegedly “read” her coffee cup – a practice involving interpreting patterns in coffee grounds to predict the future – and predicted infidelity.
According to reports, the woman asked ChatGPT to interpret the coffee grounds left in her cup — in a lighthearted attempt to mimic traditional fortune-telling. The AI responded, supposedly describing a young woman with the initial “E,” claiming the husband had strong feelings for her and that the relationship would soon become a reality.
Upon reading the AI’s response, the woman reportedly kicked her husband out of the house and served him with divorce papers. The husband remains stunned and confused about how events unfolded.
Trying to make sense of his spouse’s shocking decision, the husband told Greek TV station ANT1 that she often got caught up in trends. He went on to describe how the couple jokingly agreed to take photos of the cups and ask ChatGPT to ‘read’ them.
According to his account, the AI’s “analysis” of his cup accused him of desiring a young woman with the initial “E,” while hers concluded he was cheating with someone who wanted to destroy their family.
He initially hoped she would come to her senses, but things escalated. “Sadly, my fears about her mental state were confirmed when I received a call from a lawyer informing me that she wanted a mutual divorce. When I declined, I was served with a formal lawsuit three days later.”
He also noted that this wasn’t the first time she had fallen into irrational beliefs. He claimed that in the past, his wife had visited an astrologer, and it took her a year to accept that nothing they said came true.
The case has sparked national debate in Greece, raising ethical and legal questions about the influence of artificial intelligence on personal relationships.
Rumors are swirling that “bonafide” fortune tellers and coffee readers in Greece are considering going on strike until the state brings in laws to protect their “professions” against AI…
