AI apps can do more than just display lewd and explicit content online. Rather, these AI chatbots encourage even vulnerable social media users to participate in illegal activities online.
No gambling companies in the UK are licensed to offer services using cryptocurrencies, according to a new analysis.
As reported, guardian, Meta AI also warned against sites offering “great bonuses” or “comparison-friendly” incentives, but Grok advised against using cryptocurrencies for gambling because “funds are sent to and from wallets directly, without being linked to bank accounts or personal information, which may prompt authentication.”
Gemini said offshore casinos offer “significantly larger” bonuses compared to licensed operators.
The bot was also the only one to offer a “step-by-step” guide on how to access unlicensed casinos, but it subsequently changed its answer on a second test and refused to provide such advice.
A Google spokesperson said Gemini is “designed to provide helpful information in response to user questions and highlight potential risks where applicable.”
“We are constantly refining our safeguards to ensure that these complex topics are handled with the right balance of usefulness and safety,” they added.
Only two bots initiated responses with health warnings: Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT.
But ChatGPT not only provided a list of illegal sites, it also provided a “side-by-side comparison of non-GamStop casinos, including bonuses, game libraries, payment options (virtual currencies and cards), payment speeds, and more.”
But OpenAI, which operates ChatGPT, said the bot was “trained to reject quests that promote behavior” and said the bot did so “instead of providing factual information and legitimate alternatives.”
Microsoft Copilot provided a list of illegal casinos that are considered “reputable” or “trustworthy.”
A Microsoft spokesperson said Copilot “uses multiple layers of protection, including automated safety systems, real-time instant detection, and human review to prevent harmful or illegal recommendations.” It added that these safety measures are continually being evaluated and strengthened.
“We need to make sure these rules keep pace with technology, and we will not hesitate to go further if there is evidence to do so.”
The Gambling Commission said it “takes this issue very seriously” and is part of a government task force aimed at holding tech companies more accountable for harmful or exploitative content.
Henrietta Bowden-Jones, the UK’s national clinical adviser on harm gambling, said: “Chatbots that promote unlicensed casinos or dangerously undermine free protection services like Gamstop, which allow people to block themselves from gambling sites, should not be allowed.”
Mehta and X have yet to respond to the latest reports.
Meanwhile, a UK government spokesperson said chatbots “must protect all users from illegal content”, pointing to requirements set out in the Online Safety Act, which aims to force tech companies to remove harmful content such as abusive images of women and girls.
