'ChatGPT gave me a palm reading and chilling prediction made me run to doctor's'

A woman who shared a photo of her palm with an AI chatbot for a reading was left horrified when it sent her a dark prediction that made her book an appointment with a doctor

A woman's encounter with ChatGPT, a popular AI chatbot, led her to seek medical advice.

In the digital age, many of us have turned to AI chatbots or large language models (LLMs) for answers to our burning questions. These artificial intelligence tools can be used for everything from sourcing cleaning tips to brushing up on world history, offering an alternative to traditional Google searches.

One unique feature of these chatbots is their ability to simulate human-like conversations. You can ask an AI chatbot to read your horoscope, deliver a motivational speech, or even crack a joke.

However, one woman was left shocked when she asked ChatGPT to give her a palm reading. Initially, she sent a picture of her hand to the chatbot for fun, hoping it would offer interesting insights into her emotional health, relationships, and thought processes. Instead, it gave her a rather grim prediction.

Rin shared a video on TikTok where she revealed that instead of providing the requested palm reading, ChatGPT focused on a small mole on her palm beneath her index finger.

The chatbot advised her to have the mole "checked" by a professional as it could potentially be "acral lentiginous melanoma", a rare type of skin cancer that occurs on the palms of hands, soles of feet, or under the nails.

She remarked: "Look at that mole. That popped up in 2020 after I had my son. I've never considered it to be anything dangerous; I was just like, 'Oh, that's weird, a new mole. A hand mole. That's uncommon'."

Acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) is an infrequent variant of melanoma that grows slowly and can take several months to years before becoming invasive. Regarded as the rarest type of melanoma, DermNet notes that ALM constitutes a mere 2-3% of melanoma cases.

While ALM can affect individuals of any skin colour, it's more prevalent among those with darker complexions. Interestingly, despite its rarity among the general populace, it is the most common melanoma found in individuals with dark skin tones.

ALM typically changes over time, getting darker and larger. However, in the comments section of her video, Rin mentioned that her mole has actually "gotten lighter" as time progressed, hinting that it might not be indicative of something serious. Nevertheless, viewers encouraged her to consult a medical professional to be on the safe side.

Symptoms of melanoma

Melanomas have distinct types, but they most frequently start as new moles or modify the appearance of existing ones. Melanoma-related moles may itch or cause pain and could bleed, alter shape, or change colour.

NHS Inform provides a simple "ABCDE" checklist to distinguish between a normal mole and a potential melanoma. The indicators to watch for are:

• Asymmetrical – melanomas typically have two very different halves and are irregular in shape.
• Border – melanomas often have a notched or ragged border.
• Colours – melanomas usually consist of a mix of two or more colours.
• Diameter – melanomas are generally larger than 6mm (1/4 inch) in diameter.
• Enlargement or elevation – a mole that changes size over time is more likely to be a melanoma.

When to see a GP

The NHS advises that you should consult a GP if you notice a mole that has changed in size, shape or colour or if your mole is itchy, painful, bleeding, or crusty. You should also seek medical advice if you have an unusual mark on your skin that hasn't disappeared after several weeks.

These symptoms are not immediate indicators of melanoma, but early detection and examination could make treatment easier if it turns out to be something serious.

Moles only require treatment if they're a sign of melanoma. If your GP suspects your mole is melanoma, you'll be referred to a specialist in hospital, where the primary treatment is often to remove the mole.

You can find more information on treating melanoma on the Cancer Research UK website. For support and guidance around melanoma, visit the Macmillan Cancer Support website.