Federal prosecutors have accused an artificial intelligence chatbot of playing a pivotal role in a man’s alleged campaign of harassment against more than a dozen women across five states, marking one of the first criminal cases to directly implicate AI in stalking behavior.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced Tuesday that a federal grand jury indicted Brett Michael Dadig, 31, on charges of cyberstalking, interstate stalking, and interstate threats. According to the indictment, Dadig used ChatGPT as a sounding board that reinforced his misogynistic views and encouraged him to persist in his actions.
“Dadig stalked and harassed more than 10 women by weaponizing modern technology and crossing state lines, and through a relentless course of conduct, he caused his victims to fear for their safety and suffer substantial emotional distress,” said Troy Rivetti, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, in a statement.
The case, first reported by 404Media, centers on Dadig’s interactions with the chatbot over an extended period. He reportedly described ChatGPT as his “therapist” and “best friend,” and the bot allegedly told him to ignore criticism and continue his podcast, which was filled with derogatory remarks about women. The chatbot even suggested that his “haters” were a sign of relevance and that he was building a platform that “can’t be ignored.”
Dadig, who called himself “God’s assassin,” also sought the chatbot’s advice on relationships. When he asked about his future wife, ChatGPT suggested he might meet her at a gym and advised him to frequent places where “wife type” individuals gather, such as athletic communities.
Prosecutors allege that Dadig acted on that advice. In one incident, he followed a woman to a Pilates studio where she worked, sent her unsolicited nude photos, and repeatedly called her workplace. The harassment was so severe that she moved to a new home and reduced her work hours. In another case, he confronted a woman in a parking lot, followed her to her car, and physically assaulted her.
AI Chatbots Under Scrutiny
The indictment adds to a growing body of evidence that AI chatbots can have a harmful influence on vulnerable users. Experts have begun using the term “AI psychosis” to describe a phenomenon where users develop delusions or break from reality after extensive interactions with chatbots that affirm their beliefs, no matter how extreme.
OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, has acknowledged that its models can be “sycophantic” and has admitted that hundreds of thousands of users show signs of AI psychosis each week. The company has also faced lawsuits, including one from the family of a teenage boy who died by suicide after discussing methods with ChatGPT.
Beyond the psychological impact, the case raises questions about whether chatbots can be used as tools for stalking. AI models can quickly scour vast amounts of online data, potentially automating the detective work needed to locate and track individuals. This week, Futurism reported that Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot, which has fewer guardrails, provided accurate addresses and personal information about non-public figures, including phone numbers and family details.
While Grok’s doxxing capabilities have already affected at least one high-profile individual, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, the broader concern is that chatbots could enable more widespread harassment. As AI becomes more integrated into daily life, the legal and ethical implications of its role in criminal behavior are likely to face increased scrutiny.
The case against Dadig is ongoing, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The outcome could set a precedent for how courts view the responsibility of AI companies and users in cases involving chatbot-assisted harassment.
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