Chinese man sues AI firm after chatbot’s ‘auspicious’ date suggestion leads to disaster

A man in eastern China filed a lawsuit against an AI company after he followed a chatbot’s recommendation for his mother’s burial date, which he later claimed was linked to a family misfortune.According to Jimu News, Shi, from Jiashan county in Zhejiang province, lost his mother to a sudden illness in April.As the youngest of five siblings, Shi sought an auspicious date for her burial. Such dates, derived from traditional Chinese almanacs reflecting ancient beliefs about celestial movements, are considered by many Chinese to be guidance for significant life decisions.After consulting a feng shui master, Shi and his family initially selected April 20 as a suitable burial date.In Chinese culture, picking an auspicious date from the almanac is vital for major life events to secure good fortune and avoid bad luck. Photo: ShutterstockHowever, Shi became concerned that it fell on the fourth day after his mother’s death, as local customs regard even-numbered days as unlucky. He subsequently turned to an AI chatbot for further guidance.The chatbot recommended April 19 and advised burning paper horses and paper money before the funeral procession, a traditional practice believed to provide the deceased with essentials for their journey to the afterlife.Shi followed this advice but later received conflicting information regarding the burial time: while the chatbot suggested 7am to 9am, it simultaneously stated that April 19 was not an auspicious date.By this time, he had already informed relatives of the arrangements and could not change the date.Shortly after the funeral, one of his relatives suffered serious injuries in a traffic accident, though the specific timing of the incident was not disclosed.Following the funeral, a family member suffered serious injuries in a traffic accident, with the precise timing left undisclosed. Photo: ShutterstockSome family members attributed the incident to the burial date, believing it had disrupted the family’s feng shui and attracted bad luck.Shi, a frequent user of the AI chatbot who relied on it for tasks such as organising work contracts, felt the AI provided misleading advice that contributed to strained family relations.He later filed a lawsuit against the AI company, seeking an apology and compensation. Notably, the chatbot also assisted him in drafting legal documents and outlining litigation procedures, though the amount of compensation sought has not been disclosed.The software provider in question is Beijing Chuntian Zhiyun Technology. Its terms of use state that AI-generated content is provided for reference only and does not constitute professional advice, while users accept the relevant service agreement by using the software.In Chinese tradition, weddings are among the most critical life milestones that strictly require an almanac consultation when picking a date. Photo: Shi Yalei/VCG via Getty ImagesThe case has recently been heard at the local court and remains ongoing.The company argued that no online infringement had occurred, while Shi countered that the user agreement unfairly shifted responsibilities onto users, offered insufficient warnings, and lacked adequate review of the information sources utilised by the AI.Online observers had varying opinions; one commented: “AI is only a tool. It is unfortunate for those who cannot evaluate its answers independently.”Another noted: “The irony is that this man is using AI to sue the AI company. If this trend continues, people may eventually turn to AI lawyers for legal disputes as well.”Further Reading