A Spanish influencer's over-reliance on artificial intelligence (AI) information led to travel troubles. She had planned to vacation in Puerto Rico with her boyfriend, but was denied boarding at the airport due to incomplete documentation, ultimately missing her dream trip.
The incident video recently went viral on social media. Influencer Mery Caldas posted a tearful video on TikTok, saying that before departure she had asked ChatGPT whether she needed a visa, and the AI replied that she "did not need to apply."
However, upon arrival at the airport, she discovered that although EU citizens do not require a visa for short stays in Puerto Rico, they must still apply in advance for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). Since she had not completed this procedure, she was denied boarding on the spot.
Caldas tearfully blamed herself in the video: "This is the consequence of not doing more research. I will never blindly trust it again."
She even jokingly suggested that perhaps ChatGPT was "getting back at her," because she had previously said some unpleasant things to the AI.
The video garnered over a million views in a short time, sparking heated discussion. Many netizens criticized her for over-trusting AI: "You rely on ChatGPT even for flight information, and not checking official sources?" and "I don't even dare to trust it for weather forecasts, let alone international travel."
Experts and most netizens also emphasized that while AI can serve as a reference, when it comes to important matters such as travel and visas, one must still rely on authoritative sources like governments or airlines to ensure information is accurate and reliable.