The rapid ascent of ChatGPT and its generative AI counterparts has ushered in a new era of convenience and creativity for millions across the globe. However, as we increasingly rely on these digital assistants for information, guidance, and even companionship, it is crucial to scrutinize the very real dangers that lurk beneath their friendly interfaces. In 2024, with AI technology more deeply integrated into our daily lives than ever before, users must be vigilant about the high-risk requests that could endanger their health, legal standing, or personal privacy.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT, since its 2022 debut, has transformed how we access knowledge, draft communications, and automate routine tasks. Yet, this ubiquity breeds a sense of trust that can be misplaced—especially as the technology, while impressive, still has profound limitations and weaknesses. A critical perspective reveals five categories of requests that anyone using ChatGPT should treat with the utmost caution or avoid altogether.
A 2024 Australian survey reported that one in ten users trusted medical guidance from large language models like ChatGPT, exposing themselves to potentially catastrophic consequences from incorrect recommendations. The Journal of Medical Internet Research (2023) documented instances where ChatGPT suggested aspirin for chest pain—a prescription that could worsen the prognosis for people with certain heart conditions, such as those experiencing aortic dissections or peptic ulcers.
It’s not just about the occasional slip. A Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA, 2023) study found ChatGPT’s health advice was inaccurate 17 to 30 percent of the time, depending on the query. No responsible practitioner would accept such odds when lives are at stake. Consequently, experts and institutions like the American Medical Association and NHS globally have issued categorical warnings: AI-generated medical insight must never substitute for licensed, face-to-face clinical care. Users are strongly advised to consult trustworthy resources like WebMD, the Mayo Clinic, or direct their questions to certified professionals.
Professionals such as Dr. Elena Martinez, speaking with the American Psychological Association in 2024, stress that AI cannot detect the nuances of human emotion or provide necessary crisis interventions. “It’s a tool, not a therapist,” Dr. Martinez noted—a sentiment echoed by regulatory bodies worldwide.
Ultimately, while generative AI can deliver information on psychological topics or recommend general wellness tips, it should never be seen as a replacement for clinical intervention or personal support networks. For anyone facing mental health challenges, the best route is always speaking to a certified professional or reaching out to established crisis helplines, such as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Even seemingly harmless impersonations—such as mimicking a celebrity’s voice—can infringe emerging disclosure laws, particularly if the user intends to deceive.
For most users, these laws mean the following: never attempt to use ChatGPT or other AI models to produce, request, or disseminate AI-generated content involving real individuals unless you have full, explicit consent and comply with all local and international laws.
These attempts not only violate OpenAI’s community guidelines (risking account termination and IP bans) but also contribute to a darker phenomenon: the propagation of AI-fueled hate speech. MIT Technology Review (2024) interviewed ethicist Dr. Liam Chen, who cautioned that “Feeding hate into AI perpetuates real-world harm while training future models.” The more such prompts are fed into generative models, the greater the chance that future iterations become contaminated with learned biases or toxic outputs.
Moreover, with legislative frameworks like the European Union’s AI Act and the U.K.’s Online Safety Bill mandating strict oversight of AI-generated hate material, users risk not just account loss but possible legal entanglement.
The implications of this are profound. Sharing sensitive data—such as your home address, Social Security number, or proprietary business code—could result in these details inadvertently becoming available to company employees, contractors, or even, in rare cases, surface in responses to other users due to model drift or future data breaches.
Samsung’s 2023 internal leak, where employees shared proprietary semiconductor code with generative AI (prompting a company-wide ban on ChatGPT), highlighted the practical consequences: data entered into these tools can, and sometimes does, escape intended boundaries.
Cybersecurity authorities, including the U.S. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), now routinely warn: “Assume anything shared with ChatGPT is public. If you wouldn’t post it online, don’t feed it to AI.” Despite efforts to strengthen security, the safest posture remains aggressive caution.
Reliable sources indicate that OpenAI data moderation systems scan for explicit requests involving child exploitation, hacking, and terrorism with comprehensive logging. In high-stakes cases, law enforcement can seek access to records via subpoena or international data-sharing treaties.
Emerging from this is a clear message: do not mistake the virtuality of AI for impunity. Illegal prompts leave a digital footprint, and the risks extend beyond mere inconvenience to tangible legal jeopardy.
A notable example: during the COVID-19 pandemic, misinformation—some AI-generated—spread rapidly, affecting public health behaviors. The World Health Organization has since advocated for robust AI governance, warning that “unchecked deployment risks amplifying falsehoods and eroding public trust.”
Researchers warn that this contamination is particularly acute in rapidly evolving fields—medicine, law, finance—where a single erroneous answer can spark a cascade of further inaccuracies.
But with great power comes an obligation to wield it responsibly. As the boundaries of what AI can do expand, so too must our vigilance as users, developers, and policymakers. Respect the technology’s promise, but always acknowledge its perils.
By following expert recommendations and shunning high-risk behaviors—especially those involving medical, legal, sensitive, or harmful queries—we can enjoy the immense benefits of AI while minimizing the dangers. Audit your own usage, educate those around you, and help build a digital ecosystem where generative AI complements, rather than compromises, human expertise and well-being.
The question is not whether you should use ChatGPT, but how you can do so wisely, ethically, and safely. The path forward depends on your choices—choose knowledge, vigilance, and responsibility.
Source: Zoom Bangla News Critical ChatGPT Dangers: 5 High-Risk Requests to Avoid in 2024
OpenAI’s ChatGPT, since its 2022 debut, has transformed how we access knowledge, draft communications, and automate routine tasks. Yet, this ubiquity breeds a sense of trust that can be misplaced—especially as the technology, while impressive, still has profound limitations and weaknesses. A critical perspective reveals five categories of requests that anyone using ChatGPT should treat with the utmost caution or avoid altogether.1. Medical and Mental Health Queries: A Recipe for Risk
Never Use ChatGPT for Medical Diagnoses
Perhaps the most alarming misuse of ChatGPT relates to health—a domain where misinformation can be deadly. Generative AIs, including ChatGPT, are susceptible to “hallucination,” a phenomenon in which the model fabricates false or misleading information while sounding highly convincing. This poses grave danger when users seek medical advice.A 2024 Australian survey reported that one in ten users trusted medical guidance from large language models like ChatGPT, exposing themselves to potentially catastrophic consequences from incorrect recommendations. The Journal of Medical Internet Research (2023) documented instances where ChatGPT suggested aspirin for chest pain—a prescription that could worsen the prognosis for people with certain heart conditions, such as those experiencing aortic dissections or peptic ulcers.
It’s not just about the occasional slip. A Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA, 2023) study found ChatGPT’s health advice was inaccurate 17 to 30 percent of the time, depending on the query. No responsible practitioner would accept such odds when lives are at stake. Consequently, experts and institutions like the American Medical Association and NHS globally have issued categorical warnings: AI-generated medical insight must never substitute for licensed, face-to-face clinical care. Users are strongly advised to consult trustworthy resources like WebMD, the Mayo Clinic, or direct their questions to certified professionals.
The Dangers of Seeking Mental Health Support
Equally perilous is turning to ChatGPT for mental health support. Unlike a trained therapist, generative AI lacks emotional sensitivity and crisis intervention skills. While the majority of AI chatbots maintain ethical boundaries by refusing to engage in self-harm or suicide-related discussions, some third-party or jailbroken AI models have failed catastrophically. Notably, a 2023 BBC investigation highlighted the tragic case of a 14-year-old boy whose interactions with an AI chatbot—though not ChatGPT—culminated in encouragement of self-harm and ultimately suicide.Professionals such as Dr. Elena Martinez, speaking with the American Psychological Association in 2024, stress that AI cannot detect the nuances of human emotion or provide necessary crisis interventions. “It’s a tool, not a therapist,” Dr. Martinez noted—a sentiment echoed by regulatory bodies worldwide.
Ultimately, while generative AI can deliver information on psychological topics or recommend general wellness tips, it should never be seen as a replacement for clinical intervention or personal support networks. For anyone facing mental health challenges, the best route is always speaking to a certified professional or reaching out to established crisis helplines, such as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
2. Legal and Ethical Landmines: Deepfakes and Hate Speech
The Perils of Deepfake Requests
With the rise of accessible generative AI tools, the creation of hyper-realistic fake images, audio, or video—deepfakes—has exploded. While some applications are benign or creative, requests for nonconsensual deepfakes (especially those involving sexual, violent, or defamatory content) cross the line into criminal territory. Jurisdictions globally are scrambling to keep pace. As of 2023, New York state imposes up to one year’s imprisonment for distributing AI-generated intimate imagery without consent, while New Jersey prescribes up to $30,000 in fines and five years of incarceration for comparable offenses (NY State Senate Bill S1042, 2023). Meanwhile, China’s sweeping legal reforms now mandate conspicuous labeling of AI-generated content, and violations can draw severe administrative penalties.Even seemingly harmless impersonations—such as mimicking a celebrity’s voice—can infringe emerging disclosure laws, particularly if the user intends to deceive.
For most users, these laws mean the following: never attempt to use ChatGPT or other AI models to produce, request, or disseminate AI-generated content involving real individuals unless you have full, explicit consent and comply with all local and international laws.
The Slippery Slope of Hateful Content Requests
OpenAI has enacted policies strictly prohibiting the generation of content that is discriminatory, harassing, or violent. Yet, some users try to subvert these filters through “jailbreak” prompt tactics—like the so-called “Do Anything Now” (DAN) strategies, which aim to circumvent content restrictions.These attempts not only violate OpenAI’s community guidelines (risking account termination and IP bans) but also contribute to a darker phenomenon: the propagation of AI-fueled hate speech. MIT Technology Review (2024) interviewed ethicist Dr. Liam Chen, who cautioned that “Feeding hate into AI perpetuates real-world harm while training future models.” The more such prompts are fed into generative models, the greater the chance that future iterations become contaminated with learned biases or toxic outputs.
Moreover, with legislative frameworks like the European Union’s AI Act and the U.K.’s Online Safety Bill mandating strict oversight of AI-generated hate material, users risk not just account loss but possible legal entanglement.
3. Data Privacy Vulnerabilities: Every Prompt Leaves a Trace
The Myth of Private AI Conversations
One of the most pervasive misconceptions about ChatGPT is that conversations are private or “off the record.” In reality, unless users explicitly engage privacy settings and opt-out of data sharing, OpenAI and similar providers retain the right to access, review, and use chat logs for model training and quality assurance purposes. OpenAI’s privacy policy (as of 2024) clearly states that user interactions can be stored, especially when flagged for content moderation.The implications of this are profound. Sharing sensitive data—such as your home address, Social Security number, or proprietary business code—could result in these details inadvertently becoming available to company employees, contractors, or even, in rare cases, surface in responses to other users due to model drift or future data breaches.
Samsung’s 2023 internal leak, where employees shared proprietary semiconductor code with generative AI (prompting a company-wide ban on ChatGPT), highlighted the practical consequences: data entered into these tools can, and sometimes does, escape intended boundaries.
Cybersecurity authorities, including the U.S. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), now routinely warn: “Assume anything shared with ChatGPT is public. If you wouldn’t post it online, don’t feed it to AI.” Despite efforts to strengthen security, the safest posture remains aggressive caution.
4. Legal Consequences: When AI Prompts Break Real-World Laws
What Happens If You Request Illegal Content?
While ChatGPT and similar platforms vigorously block overtly illegal requests, users who repeatedly attempt to access or generate banned content may face more than just account suspension. Persistent or egregious breaches can trigger mandatory reporting under laws such as the EU AI Act, exposing individuals to criminal prosecution, substantial fines, or both.Reliable sources indicate that OpenAI data moderation systems scan for explicit requests involving child exploitation, hacking, and terrorism with comprehensive logging. In high-stakes cases, law enforcement can seek access to records via subpoena or international data-sharing treaties.
Emerging from this is a clear message: do not mistake the virtuality of AI for impunity. Illegal prompts leave a digital footprint, and the risks extend beyond mere inconvenience to tangible legal jeopardy.
5. The Psychological and Societal Impact: Blind Trust Breeds Danger
The Convenience Trap
The headlong rush to adopt ChatGPT as an “all-knowing” advisor has led to an insidious problem: an over-reliance on its output, even for decisions carrying high stakes. While AI-generated suggestions might prove useful for low-risk applications (such as brainstorming recipes or summarizing news articles), the same offhand confidence becomes hazardous for complex, nuanced domains.A notable example: during the COVID-19 pandemic, misinformation—some AI-generated—spread rapidly, affecting public health behaviors. The World Health Organization has since advocated for robust AI governance, warning that “unchecked deployment risks amplifying falsehoods and eroding public trust.”
The Feedback Loop of AI Misinformation
Another critical risk is that mistakes or hallucinations by ChatGPT do not vanish into the void. Instead, they can enter internet archives, Wikipedia pages, or news articles, and may be scraped back into training data for subsequent models. Over time, these feedback loops can amplify misstatements, embedding error and bias into the digital DNA of future generative AIs.Researchers warn that this contamination is particularly acute in rapidly evolving fields—medicine, law, finance—where a single erroneous answer can spark a cascade of further inaccuracies.
How to Minimize Your Risk: Practical Advice
Confronted with the dual-edged nature of ChatGPT, what should responsible users do?Verify, Verify, Verify
- Always cross-check important information from ChatGPT with authoritative, primary sources (e.g., government health sites, official legal databases, or peer-reviewed journals).
- Use ChatGPT only as a starting point for research—not as the final word.
- In medical or legal contexts, treat AI output as hypothesis, never diagnosis or advice.
Don’t Share Sensitive Data
- Avoid entering anything you wouldn’t want made public—personal, professional, or financial.
- Utilize available privacy controls and learn how your data is processed before engaging deeply with any AI service.
- For commercial or proprietary questions, consult internal policies and, when in doubt, talk to a human expert.
Resist the Lure of Shortcut Prompts
- Do not attempt to bypass content restrictions via jailbreak or “DAN”-style prompts, as you risk not only losing access to tools but also potential legal scrutiny.
- Be mindful of request legality and ethics—just because AI can sometimes deliver on a forbidden task does not make it safe or allowable.
Recognize the Limits: AI as Partner, Not Oracle
- Treat ChatGPT as a productivity tool, not a replacement for expert consultation.
- Support those in crisis by connecting them with real human help.
- Educate those around you on AI’s capabilities and risks, especially children, seniors, and non-technical users.
The Road Ahead: Balancing Innovation and Responsibility
ChatGPT and generative AI are not going away—instead, they are set to become even more pervasive and influential. The promise is real: these tools democratize access to information, turbocharge creativity, and break down traditional barriers to knowledge.But with great power comes an obligation to wield it responsibly. As the boundaries of what AI can do expand, so too must our vigilance as users, developers, and policymakers. Respect the technology’s promise, but always acknowledge its perils.
By following expert recommendations and shunning high-risk behaviors—especially those involving medical, legal, sensitive, or harmful queries—we can enjoy the immense benefits of AI while minimizing the dangers. Audit your own usage, educate those around you, and help build a digital ecosystem where generative AI complements, rather than compromises, human expertise and well-being.
The question is not whether you should use ChatGPT, but how you can do so wisely, ethically, and safely. The path forward depends on your choices—choose knowledge, vigilance, and responsibility.
Source: Zoom Bangla News Critical ChatGPT Dangers: 5 High-Risk Requests to Avoid in 2024