Title
The risks of using ChatGPT to obtain common safety-related information and advice
Author
Oviedo-Trespalacios, O. (TU Delft Safety and Security Science) 
Peden, Amy E. (University of New South Wales)
Cole-Hunter, Thomas (University of Copenhagen)
Costantini, Arianna (Università di Trento)
Haghani, Milad (University of New South Wales)
Rod, J. E. (Universidad del Norte)
Kelly, Sage (Queensland University of Technology)
Torkamaan, H. (TU Delft Multi Actor Systems; TU Delft System Engineering)
Tariq, Amina (Queensland University of Technology)
David Albert Newton, James (University of Queensland)
Gallagher, Timothy (Universiteit Utrecht)
Steinert, S. (TU Delft Ethics & Philosophy of Technology)
Filtness, Ashleigh J. (Loughborough University)
Reniers, G.L.L.M.E. (TU Delft Safety and Security Science; Universiteit Antwerpen)
Department
Multi Actor Systems
Date
2023
Abstract
ChatGPT is a highly advanced AI language model that has gained widespread popularity. It is trained to understand and generate human language and is used in various applications, including automated customer service, chatbots, and content generation. While it has the potential to offer many benefits, there are also concerns about its potential for misuse, particularly in relation to providing inappropriate or harmful safety-related information. To explore ChatGPT's (specifically version 3.5) capabilities in providing safety-related advice, a multidisciplinary consortium of experts was formed to analyse nine cases across different safety domains: using mobile phones while driving, supervising children around water, crowd management guidelines, precautions to prevent falls in older people, air pollution when exercising, intervening when a colleague is distressed, managing job demands to prevent burnout, protecting personal data in fitness apps, and fatigue when operating heavy machinery. The experts concluded that there is potential for significant risks when using ChatGPT as a source of information and advice for safety-related issues. ChatGPT provided incorrect or potentially harmful statements and emphasised individual responsibility, potentially leading to ecological fallacy. The study highlights the need for caution when using ChatGPT for safety-related information and expert verification, as well as the need for ethical considerations and safeguards to ensure users understand the limitations and receive appropriate advice, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The results of this investigation serve as a reminder that while AI technology continues to advance, caution must be exercised to ensure that its applications do not pose a threat to public safety.
Subject
Artificial intelligence
Chatbot
Human-AI interaction
Responsible risk management
Risk communication
Safety science
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:85de3b97-703b-444c-9862-2410284a0ffd
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2023.106244
ISSN
0925-7535
Source
Safety Science, 167
Part of collection
Institutional Repository
Document type
journal article
Rights
© 2023 O. Oviedo-Trespalacios, Amy E. Peden, Thomas Cole-Hunter, Arianna Costantini, Milad Haghani, J. E. Rod, Sage Kelly, H. Torkamaan, Amina Tariq, James David Albert Newton, Timothy Gallagher, S. Steinert, Ashleigh J. Filtness, G.L.L.M.E. Reniers