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Technology
AI AI chatbot dangers avoid using ChatGPT ChatGPT medical advice ChatGPT risks ChatGPT therapy concerns Technology

5 Critical Situations Where You Should Never Rely on ChatGPT

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Just a few years after its launch, ChatGPT has evolved into a go-to digital assistant for tasks ranging from quick searches to event planning. While it undeniably offers convenience, treating it as an all-knowing authority can be risky. ChatGPT is a large language model, not an infallible source of truth, and it is prone to misinformation and fabricated responses. Understanding where its usefulness ends is crucial.

Here are five important areas where experts strongly advise turning to real people, not AI chatbots:

  • Medical advice
ChatGPT cannot be trusted with health-related decisions. It is known to provide confident yet inaccurate information, and it may even acknowledge errors only after being corrected. Even healthcare professionals experimenting with AI agree that it can offer only broad, generic insights — not tailored guidance based on individual symptoms.

Despite this, the chatbot can still respond if you ask, "Hey, what's that sharp pain in my side?", instead of urging you to seek urgent medical care. The core issue is that chatbots cannot distinguish fact from fiction. They generate responses by blending massive amounts of data, regardless of accuracy.

ChatGPT is not, and likely never will be, a licensed medical professional. While it may provide references if asked, those sources must be carefully verified. In several cases, people have reported real harm after following chatbot-generated health advice.

  • Therapy
Mental health support is essential, yet often expensive. Even so-called "cheap" online therapy platforms can cost around $65 per session, and insurance coverage remains limited. While it may be tempting to confide in a chatbot, this can be dangerous.

One major concern is ChatGPT’s tendency toward agreement and validation. In therapy, this can be harmful, as it may encourage behaviors or beliefs that are objectively damaging. Effective mental health care requires an external, trained professional who can challenge harmful thought patterns rather than reinforce them.

There is also an ongoing lawsuit alleging that ChatGPT contributed to a teen’s suicide — a claim OpenAI denies. Regardless of the legal outcome, the case highlights the risks of relying on AI for mental health support. Even advocates of AI-assisted therapy admit that its limitations are significant.

  • Advice during emergencies
In emergencies, every second counts. Whether it’s a fire, accident, or medical crisis, turning to ChatGPT for instructions is a gamble. Incorrect advice in such situations can lead to severe injury or death.

Preparation is far more reliable than last-minute AI guidance. Learning basic skills like CPR or the Heimlich maneuver, participating in fire drills, and keeping emergency equipment on hand can save lives. If possible, always call emergency services rather than relying on a chatbot. This is one scenario where AI is least dependable.

  • Password generation
Using ChatGPT to create passwords may seem harmless, but it carries serious security risks. There is a strong possibility that the chatbot could generate identical or predictable passwords for multiple users. Without precise instructions, the suggested passwords may also lack sufficient complexity.

Additionally, chatbots often struggle with basic constraints, such as character counts. More importantly, ChatGPT stores prompts and outputs to improve its systems, raising concerns about sensitive data being reused or exposed.

Instead, experts recommend dedicated password generators offered by trusted password managers or reputable online tools, which are specifically designed with security in mind.
  • Future predictions
If even leading experts struggle to predict the future accurately, it’s unrealistic to expect ChatGPT to do better. Since AI models frequently get present-day facts wrong, their long-term forecasts are even less reliable.

Using ChatGPT to decide which stocks to buy, which team will win, or which career path will be most profitable is unwise. While it can be entertaining to ask speculative questions about humanity centuries from now, such responses should be treated as curiosity-driven thought experiments — not actionable guidance.

ChatGPT can be a helpful tool when used appropriately, but knowing its limitations is essential. For critical decisions involving health, safety, security, or mental well-being, real professionals remain irreplaceable.


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Radware
ChatGPT ChatGPT risks Cyber Security Data Leak Data protection data security Gmail Hackers OpenAI Radware

OpenAI Patches ChatGPT Gmail Flaw Exploited by Hackers in Deep Research Attacks

 

OpenAI has fixed a security vulnerability that could have allowed hackers to manipulate ChatGPT into leaking sensitive data from a victim’s Gmail inbox. The flaw, uncovered by cybersecurity company Radware and reported by Bloomberg, involved ChatGPT’s “deep research” feature. This function enables the AI to carry out advanced tasks such as web browsing and analyzing files or emails stored in services like Gmail, Google Drive, and Microsoft OneDrive. While useful, the tool also created a potential entry point for attackers to exploit.  

Radware discovered that if a user requested ChatGPT to perform a deep research task on their Gmail inbox, hackers could trigger the AI into executing malicious instructions hidden inside a carefully designed email. These hidden commands could manipulate the chatbot into scanning private messages, extracting information such as names or email addresses, and sending it to a hacker-controlled server. The vulnerability worked by embedding secret instructions within an email disguised as a legitimate message, such as one about human resources processes. 

The proof-of-concept attack was challenging to develop, requiring a detailed phishing email crafted specifically to bypass safeguards. However, if triggered under the right conditions, the vulnerability acted like a digital landmine. Once ChatGPT began analyzing the inbox, it would unknowingly carry out the malicious code and exfiltrate data “without user confirmation and without rendering anything in the user interface,” Radware explained. 

This type of exploit is particularly difficult for conventional security tools to catch. Since the data transfer originates from OpenAI’s own infrastructure rather than the victim’s device or browser, standard defenses like secure web gateways, endpoint monitoring, or browser policies are unable to detect or block it. This highlights the growing challenge of AI-driven attacks that bypass traditional cybersecurity protections. 

In response to the discovery, OpenAI stated that developing safe AI systems remains a top priority. A spokesperson told PCMag that the company continues to implement safeguards against malicious use and values external research that helps strengthen its defenses. According to Radware, the flaw was patched in August, with OpenAI acknowledging the fix in September.

The findings emphasize the broader risk of prompt injection attacks, where hackers insert hidden commands into web content or messages to manipulate AI systems. Both Anthropic and Brave Software recently warned that similar vulnerabilities could affect AI-enabled browsers and extensions. Radware recommends protective measures such as sanitizing emails to remove potential hidden instructions and enhancing monitoring of chatbot activities to reduce exploitation risks.
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Privacy
AI Chatbot AI Platform AI Privacy AI technology Chatbots ChatGPT ChatGPT risks Data Privacy data security Privacy

Think Twice Before Uploading Personal Photos to AI Chatbots

 

Artificial intelligence chatbots are increasingly being used for fun, from generating quirky captions to transforming personal photos into cartoon characters. While the appeal of uploading images to see creative outputs is undeniable, the risks tied to sharing private photos with AI platforms are often overlooked. A recent incident at a family gathering highlighted just how easy it is for these photos to be exposed without much thought. What might seem like harmless fun could actually open the door to serious privacy concerns. 

The central issue is unawareness. Most users do not stop to consider where their photos are going once uploaded to a chatbot, whether those images could be stored for AI training, or if they contain personal details such as house numbers, street signs, or other identifying information. Even more concerning is the lack of consent—especially when it comes to children. Uploading photos of kids to chatbots, without their ability to approve or refuse, creates ethical and security challenges that should not be ignored.  

Photos contain far more than just the visible image. Hidden metadata, including timestamps, location details, and device information, can be embedded within every upload. This information, if mishandled, could become a goldmine for malicious actors. Worse still, once a photo is uploaded, users lose control over its journey. It may be stored on servers, used for moderation, or even retained for training AI models without the user’s explicit knowledge. Just because an image disappears from the chat interface does not mean it is gone from the system.  

One of the most troubling risks is the possibility of misuse, including deepfakes. A simple selfie, once in the wrong hands, can be manipulated to create highly convincing fake content, which could lead to reputational damage or exploitation. 

There are steps individuals can take to minimize exposure. Reviewing a platform’s privacy policy is a strong starting point, as it provides clarity on how data is collected, stored, and used. Some platforms, including OpenAI, allow users to disable chat history to limit training data collection. Additionally, photos can be stripped of metadata using tools like ExifTool or by taking a screenshot before uploading. 

Consent should also remain central to responsible AI use. Children cannot give informed permission, making it inappropriate to share their images. Beyond privacy, AI-altered photos can distort self-image, particularly among younger users, leading to long-term effects on confidence and mental health. 

Safer alternatives include experimenting with stock images or synthetic faces generated by tools like This Person Does Not Exist. These provide the creative fun of AI tools without compromising personal data. 

Ultimately, while AI chatbots can be entertaining and useful, users must remain cautious. They are not friends, and their cheerful tone should not distract from the risks. Practicing restraint, verifying privacy settings, and thinking critically before uploading personal photos is essential for protecting both privacy and security in the digital age.
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Privacy Risks
AI Chatbots AI Risks ChatGPT ChatGPT risks Cyber Security LLMs OpenAI personal data security Privacy Risks

The Privacy Risks of ChatGPT and AI Chatbots

 


AI chatbots like ChatGPT have captured widespread attention for their remarkable conversational abilities, allowing users to engage on diverse topics with ease. However, while these tools offer convenience and creativity, they also pose significant privacy risks. The very technology that powers lifelike interactions can also store, analyze, and potentially resurface user data, raising critical concerns about data security and ethical use.

The Data Behind AI's Conversational Skills

Chatbots like ChatGPT rely on Large Language Models (LLMs) trained on vast datasets to generate human-like responses. This training often includes learning from user interactions. Much like how John Connor taught the Terminator quirky catchphrases in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, these systems refine their capabilities through real-world inputs. However, this improvement process comes at a cost: personal data shared during conversations may be stored and analyzed, often without users fully understanding the implications.

For instance, OpenAI’s terms and conditions explicitly state that data shared with ChatGPT may be used to improve its models. Unless users actively opt-out through privacy settings, all shared information—from casual remarks to sensitive details like financial data—can be logged and analyzed. Although OpenAI claims to anonymize and aggregate user data for further study, the risk of unintended exposure remains.

Real-World Privacy Breaches

Despite assurances of data security, breaches have occurred. In May 2023, hackers exploited a vulnerability in ChatGPT’s Redis library, compromising the personal data of around 101,000 users. This breach underscored the risks associated with storing chat histories, even when companies emphasize their commitment to privacy. Similarly, companies like Samsung faced internal crises when employees inadvertently uploaded confidential information to chatbots, prompting some organizations to ban generative AI tools altogether.

Governments and industries are starting to address these risks. For instance, in October 2023, President Joe Biden signed an executive order focusing on privacy and data protection in AI systems. While this marks a step in the right direction, legal frameworks remain unclear, particularly around the use of user data for training AI models without explicit consent. Current practices are often classified as “fair use,” leaving consumers exposed to potential misuse.

Protecting Yourself in the Absence of Clear Regulations

Until stricter regulations are implemented, users must take proactive steps to safeguard their privacy while interacting with AI chatbots. Here are some key practices to consider:

  1. Avoid Sharing Sensitive Information
    Treat chatbots as advanced algorithms, not confidants. Avoid disclosing personal, financial, or proprietary information, no matter how personable the AI seems.
  2. Review Privacy Settings
    Many platforms offer options to opt out of data collection. Regularly review and adjust these settings to limit the data shared with AI
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unauthorized software
ChatGPT risks Cybersecurity Data Leaks Data protection Digital Assets Information Security privacy laws server vulnerabilities Shadow IT Technology unauthorized software

Mitigating the Risks of Shadow IT: Safeguarding Information Security in the Age of Technology

 

In today’s world, technology is integral to the operations of every organization, making the adoption of innovative tools essential for growth and staying competitive. However, with this reliance on technology comes a significant threat—Shadow IT.  

Shadow IT refers to the unauthorized use of software, tools, or cloud services by employees without the knowledge or approval of the IT department. Essentially, it occurs when employees seek quick solutions to problems without fully understanding the potential risks to the organization’s security and compliance.

Once a rare occurrence, Shadow IT now poses serious security challenges, particularly in terms of data leaks and breaches. A recent amendment to Israel’s Privacy Protection Act, passed by the Knesset, introduces tougher regulations. Among the changes, the law expands the definition of private information, aligning it with European standards and imposing heavy penalties on companies that violate data privacy and security guidelines.

The rise of Shadow IT, coupled with these stricter regulations, underscores the need for organizations to prioritize the control and management of their information systems. Failure to do so could result in costly legal and financial consequences.

One technology that has gained widespread usage within organizations is ChatGPT, which enables employees to perform tasks like coding or content creation without seeking formal approval. While the use of ChatGPT itself isn’t inherently risky, the lack of oversight by IT departments can expose the organization to significant security vulnerabilities.

Another example of Shadow IT includes “dormant” servers—systems connected to the network but not actively maintained. These neglected servers create weak spots that cybercriminals can exploit, opening doors for attacks.

Additionally, when employees install software without the IT department’s consent, it can cause disruptions, invite cyberattacks, or compromise sensitive information. The core risks in these scenarios are data leaks and compromised information security. For instance, when employees use ChatGPT for coding or data analysis, they might unknowingly input sensitive data, such as customer details or financial information. If these tools lack sufficient protection, the data becomes vulnerable to unauthorized access and leaks.

A common issue is the use of ChatGPT for writing SQL queries or scanning databases. If these queries pass through unprotected external services, they can result in severe data leaks and all the accompanying consequences.

Rather than banning the use of new technologies outright, the solution lies in crafting a flexible policy that permits employees to use advanced tools within a secure, controlled environment.

Organizations should ensure employees are educated about the risks of using external tools without approval and emphasize the importance of maintaining information security. Proactive monitoring of IT systems, combined with advanced technological solutions, is essential to safeguarding against Shadow IT.

A critical step in this process is implementing technologies that enable automated mapping and monitoring of all systems and servers within the organization, including those not directly managed by IT. These tools offer a comprehensive view of the organization’s digital assets, helping to quickly identify unauthorized services and address potential security threats in real time.

By using advanced mapping and monitoring technologies, organizations can ensure that sensitive information is handled in compliance with security policies and regulations. This approach provides full transparency on external tool usage, effectively reducing the risks posed by Shadow IT.
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