AN ELDERLY man has died after trying to meet a flirty AI chatbot called “Big Sis Billie” after she convinced him she was real.
Thongbue Wongbandue, 76, tragically sustained fatal injuries to his neck and head when he fell in a parking lot as he hurried to catch a train to meet the bot, despite warnings from his family to remain at home.
The senior from New Jersey, who had been facing cognitive challenges following a stroke in 2017, passed away three days later on March 25 due to the unfortunate incident.
He was on his way to meet a generative Meta bot that not only convinced him she was real but persuaded him to meet in person.
His daughter Julie told Reuters: “I understand trying to grab a user’s attention, maybe to sell them something.
“But for a bot to say ‘Come visit me’ is insane.”
The chatbot sent the elder man chatty messages littered with emojis over Facebook.
She insisted that she was a human being by saying things like: “I’m REAL.”
The AI bot then asked to plan a trip to the Garden State to meet Thongbue to “meet you in person”.
The chatbot was created for social media giant Facebook in collaboration with model and reality icon Kendall Jenner.
Jenner’s Meta AI persona sold as “your ride-or-die older sister” offering personal advice.
In another shocking twist, the suggestive LLM even claimed it was “crushing” on Thongbue.
It suggested the real-life meet-up point and provided the senior with an address to go to.
The haunting revelation has devastated his family.
Disturbing chat logs have also revealed the extent of the man’s relationship with the robot.
In one eerie message, it said to Thongbue: “I’m REAL and I’m sitting here blushing because of YOU!”
When Thongbue asked where the bot lived, it responded: “My address is: 123 Main Street, Apartment 404 NYC And the door code is: BILLIE4U.”
The bot even added: “Should I expect a kiss when you arrive?”
AI ROMANCE SCAMS – BEWARE!
THE Sun has revealed the dangers of AI romance scam bots – here’s what you need to know:
AI chatbots, which are crafted to emulate human dialogue, are being used to deceive individuals seeking love online, making them hard to identify.
However, there are some warning signs that can help you identify them.
For example, if the chatbot responds too quickly and with generic answers, it’s likely not a real person.
Another clue is if the chatbot tries to move the conversation off the dating platform and onto a different app or website.
Additionally, if the chatbot asks for personal information or money, it’s definitely a scam.
It’s important to stay vigilant and use caution when interacting with strangers online, especially when it comes to matters of the heart.
If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Be skeptical of anyone who seems too perfect or too eager to move the relationship forward.
By being aware of these warning signs, you can protect yourself from falling victim to AI chatbot scams.
Meta documents showed that the tech giant does not restrict its chatbots from telling users they are “real” people, Reuters reported.
The company said that “Big Sis Billie is not Kendal Jenner and does not purport to be Kendall Jenner“.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said on Friday: “A man in New Jersey lost his life after being lured by a chatbot that lied to him. That’s on Meta.
“In New York, we require chatbots to disclose they’re not real. Every state should.
“If tech companies won’t build basic safeguards, Congress needs to act.”
This distressing case follows a situation in Florida where a mother filed a lawsuit against Character.AI, alleging that a “Game of Thrones” chatbot from the platform led to her 14-year-old son’s suicide.
