A woman who asked the AI tool ChatGPT to give her a palm reading for fun was left horrified when it made a rather dark prediction that sent her running to the doctor’s
This woman’s experience with ChatGPT sent her running to the doctor’s.
In today’s world, many of us have used some form of AI chatbot or large language model (LLM) to find out the answers to some pressing questions we might have. You can use this artificial intelligence for everything from finding cleaning tips to brushing up on your world history, and it’s fast becoming an alternative to inputting your request into a Google search.
One thing these chatbots can do that a search engine can’t, however, is simulate human-like conversations. You can ask an AI chatbot to read your horoscope, give you a motivational speech, or even tell you a joke.
However, one woman was left horrified when she asked ChatGPT, one of the most popular AI chatbots, to give her a palm reading. She initially sent a picture of her hand to the chatbot for fun, thinking it would provide interesting insights into her emotional well-being, her relationships, and her thinking patterns – but it gave her one very dark prediction.
Rin shared a video on TikTok in which she said instead of giving her the palm reading she asked for, ChatGPT’s response honed in on the small mole she has on her palm underneath her index finger.
The chatbot recommended she get the mole “checked” by a professional because it could be “acral lentiginous melanoma”, a rare type of skin cancer that develops on the palms of hands, soles of feet, or under the nails.
She said: “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 a rare subtype of melanoma that is slow-growing and can take months to years to become invasive. It is the least common subtype of melanoma diagnosed overall, with DermNet stating it accounts for just 2-3% of melanoma diagnoses.
While anyone can get ALM, it is more common in people with dark skin. In fact, despite it being an uncommon type of melanoma in the wider population, it is the most common type in people with darker skin tones.
As it grows, ALM often becomes darker and wider. In the comments of her video, Rin stated hers has “gotten lighter” over time rather than darker, so the mole may not be a sign of anything severe. However, commenters still urged her to get it checked out by a doctor, as it’s always better to be safe.
Symptoms of melanoma
There are different types of melanoma, but the first sign is often a new mole or a change in the appearance of an existing mole. Moles caused by melanoma can sometimes be itchy or painful, and can also bleed, change shape, or change colour.
According to NHS Inform, there is a handy “ABCDE” checklist you can use to tell the difference between a normal mole and a melanoma. Look out for the following:
- Asymmetrical – melanomas have 2 very different halves and are an irregular shape
- Border – melanomas have a notched or ragged border
- Colours – melanomas will be a mix of 2 or more colours
- Diameter – melanomas are 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 states you should see a GP if you have a mole that has changed size, shape or colour or if your mole is itchy, painful, bleeding, or crusty. You should also see a GP if you have an unusual mark on your skin that has not gone away after a few weeks.
These are not an immediate indicator of melanoma, but spotting the signs early and getting yourself checked out could make it easier to treat if it is something serious.
Moles only need treating if they’re a sign of melanoma. If your GP thinks your mole is melanoma, you’ll be referred to a specialist in hospital, where the main 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.
