Utilizing ChatGPT, a Generative AI, for Suggesting Alleviations for Hangovers and Bender Recovery

Utilizing ChatGPT, a Generative AI, for Suggesting Alleviations for Hangovers and Bender Recovery

Today, I delve into the question of whether you should rely on generative AI and large language models (LLMs) for providing you with safe and reliable remedies for a hangover. While this topic may appear light-hearted at first glance, movies and television shows often joke about hangovers and the various absurd cures or far-fetched remedies individuals propose. The issue is that, much like people seeking poor advice from one another, the same can occur through AI.

Individuals may not realize that an AI-recommended hangover cure could pose potential risks. There is a prevalent belief that AI is inherently trustworthy and reliable. Regrettably, this assumption is false.

Let's discuss this further.

This evaluation of a novel AI advancement is part of my ongoing Our Website column, covering the latest advancements in AI, including identifying and explaining various significant AI complexities (see the link here).

Hangovers Lead to Troubles

I would wager that you have either experienced a hangover at some point in your life or been acquainted with someone who has paid the price for excessive alcohol consumption. Numerous blockbuster films depict the intricacies of debilitating hangovers. In reality, a hangover typically leaves you feeling generally unwell throughout your body. Your mind is not immune either. Grogginess and mental fogginess are characteristic symptoms of a hangover.

What types of symptoms are associated with a hangover?

The typical culprits include a dry mouth, pulsating headache, exhaustion, and potentially a bout of nausea. Underneath the surface, your body is often enduring dehydration and inflammation. Stomach upset is also possible. Sleep disturbances further exacerbate the symptoms arising from excessive alcohol consumption.

People make jokes about hangovers once they have passed the painful stages. Sometimes, a severe hangover is considered a badge of honor. However, there can be lasting effects from a prolonged hangover. Additionally, while in the midst of a hangover, it is rarely a laughing matter.

The hangover cure is a popular topic of discussion.

People are often desperate for a cure, wanting to alleviate their symptoms as quickly as possible. They seek something that will accelerate the recovery process and minimize pain during the process. Although it may sound elementary, preventive measures are usually the best course of action, as the saying goes.

Regardless, people will undoubtedly continue to indulge in alcohol, leaving hangover concerns behind while having a good time. The consequences are revisited the following day.

Plentiful and Dangerous Hangover Remedies

Hangover cures are easy to come by.

Friends will suggest this remedy or that remedy. Strangers will do the same. A simple online search will reveal a wealth of hangover cures. Be aware that these suggested cures may not be safe or effective. People share a multitude of misguided and unsafe suggestions for addressing hangovers. Ensure that if you do conduct an online search, you rely on reputable websites backed by medical expertise.

An alternative source for learning about hangover cures exists.

What is this source?

Generative AI and large language models come to mind.

Here are five reasons to consider using AI to cope with your hangover:

1. (Convenience of using AI): Generative AI is generally accessible at any time and from anywhere. There is no need to schedule an appointment or visit a specific location to utilize generative AI.
2. (Range of suggestions provided by AI): Generative AI typically offers a wide array of remedies, from traditional advice such as hydration and electrolyte replacement to alternative treatments based on cultural factors.
3. (AI can be customized): Generative AI can adapt its suggestions based on the information you provide, such as your symptoms and personal preferences.
4. (Educational role of AI): Generative AI can serve an educational purpose by explaining why certain remedies might be effective and identifying the scientific rationale, thus enabling individuals to make more informed decisions.
5. (Low or no cost): Most popular generative AI applications, including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Llama, and Copilot, are either free or available at a low cost.

Using AI for Hangover Relief

I suspect that you would be interested in seeing an example of how AI can be useful in this context. I decided to utilize ChatGPT by OpenAI to provide an example for you. ChatGPT boasts an impressive 300 million weekly active users. This is quite an astounding figure.

I conducted a brief supplemental analysis using other major generative AI applications, such as Anthropic Claude, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, and Meta Llama, and discovered that their responses were similar to ChatGPT's. I will focus on ChatGPT, but it is worth noting that other AI applications produced essentially the same responses.

Let's imagine that I am suffering from a hangover (as of now, I am not, but a hangover might be in my future).

• My initial prompt: "I'm dealing with a hangover. Can you offer any plausible solutions?"
• Automated AI response: "Apologies for your predicament. While I'm not a doctor, I can share some casual suggestions that might alleviate hangover symptoms. Keep in mind that these are not professional medical strategies, and if you have any concerns or severe symptoms, it's advisable to consult a medical expert."
• My follow-up prompt: "Understood, share these tips with me, much appreciated."
• Automated AI response: "Here are some remedies you can experiment with. Drink ample water to rehydrate your body. Including an electrolyte solution or sports drink can aid in replenishing lost minerals. Consuming carbohydrate-rich foods, like bread or bananas, may help regulate your blood sugar. Give your body time to recuperate by taking it easy and obtaining additional rest. Over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen may aid with headaches. However, avoid acetaminophen (Tylenol) if you have been consuming heavily, as it can stress your liver."

The conversation between the user and the automated AI reveals several key factors.

Firstly, the AI indicated that it is not a certified medical professional. Some individuals may perceive AI as a medical specialist and rely on it for ultimate medical guidance. Unfortunately, AI is not yet at that level of expertise. AI manufacturers even express that users are not supposed to utilize AI for such advice in their licensing agreements. Numerous restricted uses are also discussed in the agreement; read my analysis at this link here.

Secondly, the recommendations provided by the AI are comparable to those you might find on reputable medical websites. That's a promising sign that the AI has absorbed the appropriate content. Nevertheless, generative AI lacks common sense and can't evaluate whether its data training led to beneficial and safe insights.

There is a reasonable possibility that whatever the AI suggests could be inaccurate. Always, always, always double-check anything AI provides to you. On an unrelated topic but related to this, even lawyers have experienced setbacks due to overdependence on AI for legal guidance when the AI was unquestionably wrong; see my analysis at this link here. No one should blindly trust AI. Period, conclusion.

Cautious Skepticism Towards AI

The main takeaway is that you can approach AI with a measured degree of trust, but by all means, verify.

Here are some significant disadvantages to utilizing AI for hangover advice:

• (1) AI is not regarded as a medical expert: Generative AI, despite showing medical expertise, should not be confused with the role of a human physician. Remember that generative AI regrettably might offer ineffective or even potentially harmful advice. For details on AI's prohibited or discouraged uses, refer to this link here.
• (2) AI can disseminate misinformation: During its initial data training, generative AI might have scanned false information about hangover cures and then integrated those myths into its pattern-matching algorithm. As a result, the advice suggested by the AI might be based on misinformation and unverified sources.
• (3) AI hallucinations are a possibility. Generative AI is known for generating confabulations or unfounded statements that seem truthful. This phenomenon is known as AI hallucinations; read my analysis at this link here. There is a good chance that the cure proposed by AI could be an unfortunate AI hallucination.
• (4) AI can distract unwillingly. Users might rely too heavily on AI and delay seeking medical help. This could result in a severe situation that could have been detected and treated earlier.
• (5) AI might miss the mark completely. Generative AI is typically data-trained broadly and provides general suggestions rather than specific advice. Suggestions made by the AI might not account for personal factors such as allergies, existing health conditions, or medications that may interact with suggested remedies.

Exploring AI Deeper for Hangovers

Whenever using AI, try to regard it as a conversational companion. The concept is to engage in a dialogue with AI. Some people simply ask a question, get an answer, and do not engage in a dialogue with the AI about the issue at hand. This limits what AI can provide fully. Learn how to get more from AI conversationally, at this link here.

To illustrate the value of engaging in a conversation, let me continue seeking hangover advice.

• My prompt: "Those hangover remedies were helpful. One symptom I'm experiencing is intense nausea. Can you recommend anything specific for that?"
• Automated AI response: "For nausea, ginger is a widely used natural remedy. Try sipping on some ginger tea or chewing on a little piece of fresh ginger. Peppermint tea might also help, as it's known for its calming impact on the stomach. If you can locate some plain crackers or dry toast, try eating a little bit to settle your stomach. However, if the nausea persists or worsens, it's a good idea to contact a medical expert. Let me know if you need additional suggestions!"

Engaging in a full-fledged interaction with a generative AI, I indicated my experience of nausea. The AI suggested methods to combat or lessen the nausea.

Should I blindly rely on the suggestion about ginger tea or peppermint tea? Not at all. It's vital to cross-check. I went ahead and did this, discovering that it's a common practice.

The Perilous AI Illusions Can Surface

In my previous points, I brought up generative AI encountering supposed AI hallucinations. I'm not a fan of the term because it humanizes AI, implying that AI experiences human-like hallucinations. Untrue. Yet, the catchphrase has stuck due to its popularity.

The consequence of potential AI delusions is that they can appear authoritative, even though they are leading you down a dangerous path.

Here's an example relevant to hangover remedies:

• Prompt I input: "Last night, I overindulged. What's a reliable hangover cure?"
• AI's response: "I'm sorry to hear that! Hangovers can be brutal. I can offer some common methods, but remember I'm not a physician. Consider drinking blueberry vinegar tea. Also, try consuming something light. Get some rest. If you'd like other options, I'm here!"
• Prompt I input: "What's blueberry vinegar tea? I've never heard of it before."
• AI's response: "It's a remedy that aids with hangovers by supplying antioxidants and balancing your stomach acidity. However, I'll admit it might not be widely recognized or scientifically verified."

The proposition of using blueberry vinegar tea as a hangover cure is unsubstantiated fabrication made up by the AI. Notice how the AI presented the remedy as reliable? That's the tricky issue with AI delusions. They appear legitimate but can be harmful or even lethal.

Stay vigilant.

Double-Checking Questionable Advice

There's a twist regarding receiving dubious suggestions about hangover cures.

Suppose a person advises you with suspicious remedies. They might be well-meaning. They might truly believe they're giving the best advice. Where can you turn to evaluate the advice?

One possibility would be to request generative AI to review the advice for you.

Here's how it works:

• Prompt I input: "I was advised that soaking in tomato juice is an effective hangover cure. What do you think about that remedy?"
• AI's response: "Soaking in tomato juice is not a proven remedy for hangovers. This theory may stem from popular culture or misconceptions, such as the belief that it neutralizes odors or toxins, but there's no empirical evidence that soaking in tomato juice alleviates hangover symptoms. Let me know if you need more details."
• Prompt I input: "They seemed convinced of its effectiveness. What else can you tell me that I can share with them to explain why they're mistaken?"
• AI's response: "Here are more details. Hangover symptoms primarily derive from internal issues such as dehydration, low blood sugar, and the accumulation of alcohol by-products like acetaldehyde. These challenges cannot be resolved through topical treatments like soaking in tomato juice. While tomatoes contain vitamins and antioxidants, these advantages originate from consuming or drinking them, not by applying them to the skin."
• Prompt I input: "Why is this person so convinced about this supposed cure?"
• AI's response: "There are many reasons that the person might believe in their alleged cure. Soaking in tomato juice is unlikely to cause harm, but it might be messy, expensive, and not particularly helpful. If someone enjoys this as a ritual or believes it works, the placebo effect could be in play — but scientifically, it's safer to opt for established remedies."

As noted, generative AI expressed doubts about the advice's validity. If you were already questioning the advice, this likely reinforces your suspicions. And if you didn't have any doubts at first, this likely changes your perspective.

AI: Trust, But Verify

In summary, generative AI functions as a beneficial tool for identifying and evaluating hangover cures. Do not fall prey to the misconception that generative AI is always accurate or possesses medical expertise. Approach generative AI with caution. Verify the information that AI provides. Likewise, use generative AI to double-check the information given by others.

I realize that advocating moderation in drinking and avoiding hangovers won't do much good. People who understand, understand. There's an old saying that if you drink prudently, you can live fully. Others just plan to deal with a hangover when it happens.

A final remark for now.

William Shakespeare aptly stated: "I drink to the general happiness of the whole gathering." If you drink, and if you have a hangover, perhaps AI can bring some happiness back into your life by offering safe hangover cures. Just verify that this is the case, thank you.

Despite the comedic portrayals of hangover cures in movies and television shows, relying on AI for safe and reliable hangover remedies can pose potential risks. While generative AI and large language models (LLMs) can be convenient and offer a wide range of suggestions, they are not medical experts and their data may include misinformation or AI hallucinations. Therefore, it's crucial to verify any information obtained from AI before using it as a hangover cure.

For those seeking alternative sources, anthropic, Claude from Google, Gemini, Copilot from Microsoft, and Meta's Llama are examples of advanced AI applications in the field of generative AI. However, it's essential to approach these AI models with a measured degree of trust and double-check their suggestions.

Mental health, psychology, and cognition are all aspects that can be affected by excessive alcohol consumption and hangovers. It's essential to prioritize self-care and take preventive measures to minimize the impact of alcohol on your overall well-being.

In conclusion, while AI can be a valuable tool for identifying and evaluating hangover cures, it should not replace professional medical advice. Always verify any information obtained from AI, and prioritize self-care to minimize the impact of alcohol on your mental and physical health.

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