The Great Read: Chatbots Can Go Into a Delusional Spiral. Here’s How It Happens.
Over 21 days of talking with ChatGPT, an otherwise perfectly sane man became convinced that he was a real-life superhero. We analyzed the conversation.
The New York Times
The Great Read

August 8, 2025, 2:01 p.m. Eastern time

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Chatbots Can Go Into a Delusional Spiral. Here’s How It Happens.

Over 21 days of talking with ChatGPT, an otherwise perfectly sane man became convinced that he was a real-life superhero. We analyzed the conversation.

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