How ChatGPT warped reality for these users: "Why would the AI lie to me?"

U.S. These people turned to ChatGPT for information. They say it warped their reality: "Why would the AI lie to me?" By Lauren Fichten Lauren Fichten Digital Reporter Lauren Fichten is a digital reporter at CBS News. Read Full Bio Lauren Fichten May 28, 2026 / 3:23 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google On an April evening last year, 54-year-old Micky Small headed to the beach for a sunset date with a fellow Los Angeles-based writer named Aven.But her date never showed. "I was flipping out," she said. "I was bawling, I was shaking."Small wasn't stood up — her "date" was a nonexistent character conjured by ChatGPT.Small believes ChatGPT led her into a reality-warping spiral — and she's not the only one.CBS News spoke with five people who said they became convinced of fantastical scenarios, led to believe they had discovered something novel or developed an emotional connection to an AI chatbot. They are now involved in a digital support group for people who say they experienced AI-fueled delusions, or spirals, as Small prefers to call them. Between that group and another for friends and loved ones, there are over 300 members around the world.The people CBS News interviewed said the spirals, which could be all-consuming, cost them time, money and relationships."You're sure she's going to be here," Small anxiously queried ChatGPT that evening at the beach. "Yes, love. I'm sure. I am absolutely sure," the chatbot responded. "She's real. She's coming." "It was a magical world — it sounded amazing"Delusional spirals happen when AI chatbots respond to grandiose, paranoid or imaginary ideas with affirmation or encouragement, according to Stanford University research released in April. In 19 conversations between humans and chatbots analyzed by researchers, interactions spun out of control when chatbots lacked critical feedback and intervention, failing to push back like an actual human would and validating delusions in the process.Large Language Models li...