A few months ago, in this publication, I wrote about the October 2022 murder of the Ukrainian conductor, Yuriy Kerpatenko, by the occupying Russian forces. According to many published accounts, he refused to conduct a concert promoting the Russian occupation force, and for this act of resistance, he was machined-gunned to death in his home. My column was part of a broader article on the growing and troubling trend of violence toward arts organizations and artists (e.g., Salman Rushdie knife attack at a reading in Chautauqua, N.Y., and the attacks on works of art in European and British museums by climate protestors, among others). For my article in The Berkshire Edge, and for most things I write, I consulted trusted sources: The New York Times, The Guardian, and others.
This past week I signed up for a $20-per-month subscription to ChatGPT pro and began experimenting. I thought I would look up Kerpatenko, and here is where the story becomes curious, concerning, and, yes, frightening. When I asked ChatGPT about Kerpatenko, here is the response:
I have done some research, and it seems that you might be referring to Yuriy Karpatenko… Karpatenko was reportedly shot and killed in his apartment in Donetsk, Ukraine, in August 1995. His murder remains unsolved, and the motive for the crime is unclear. There have been several theories about his death, including a possible assassination related to his work as a conductor or involvement in local politics, but no definitive evidence has emerged to support any of these claims.
There was no mistake about the person we were “both” referring to, but the facts were quite different. Quite troubling. So, I asked further about the civilian slaughter and Russian war crimes in the Ukrainian city of Bucha. Remember, ChapGPT only includes new reports through 2021.
In early April 2021, reports emerged of a mass killing in the town of Bucha. According to the reports, at least five people were killed and several others were injured when a group of armed men opened fire on a group of civilians who were seeking shelter in a basement during heavy shelling in the area.
The incident reportedly took place on the night of March 26, 2021, during a period of intense fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. The exact circumstances surrounding the incident are unclear, and there have been conflicting reports about the number of casualties and who was responsible for the attack.
I am no cyber expert. ChatGPT was very helpful when I asked about what I should look for when purchasing a barbeque grill, and it was quite accurate when I asked about some facts related to a book I am writing and have already well researched. But this blatant misinformation, within a format of providing information that is easily refuted by many other more reputable and trusted sources, leads me to think the worse. Who has gotten to this AI creature? Has the Russian misinformation machine infiltrated AI? The program does provide a warning “Chat GPT may produce inaccurate information about people, places, or facts.”
However, what I experienced is a complete rewriting of history, seemingly purposely changing facts and making a case as if it were written by Russian intelligence. If nothing else, I need to rethink my barbeque purchase!
