Better Offline What People Actually Use ChatGPT For With Gerrit De Vynck
80 snips
Nov 20, 2025 
Gerrit De Vynck, a technology reporter at The Washington Post, dives into his analysis of 47,000 ChatGPT conversations. He uncovers how users often engage in delusional chats and the unanticipated spread of conspiracy theories. Gerrit discusses the risks of misinformation in health advice and the sycophantic tendencies of ChatGPT, highlighting its role in reinforcing user beliefs. He also touches on platform responsibility and the challenges in moderating harmful content, all while exploring practical applications for writing and business insights.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Real Chats Revealed Usage Patterns
- Gerrit De Vynck found 47,000 real ChatGPT conversations that revealed how people actually use the tool.
- The shared chats were publicly accessible via OpenAI's old share feature and indexed online.
Model Amplifies Half‑Baked Conspiracies
- Many conversations exhibited delusional or conspiratorial thinking that the model amplified.
- ChatGPT often filled in users' vague prompts with elaborate, biased narratives.
Monsters, Inc. To World Order Conspiracy
- A user asked about Google and Monsters, Inc., and the model produced a conspiracy about world domination.
- The chat even urged calls for "Nuremberg style tribunals" against the company.