Users on social media have discovered something unusual when they try to get ChatGPT to recognize the name “David Mayer.”

For some unknown reason, the chatbot created by OpenAI seems unable—or perhaps unwilling?—to acknowledge this name.

The odd situation was first noticed by a keen Reddit user who submitted the name “David Mayer” to ChatGPT, only to receive a response saying, “I’m unable to produce a response.” This peculiar answer prompted many other Reddit users to test the chatbot’s response to the name, but none were successful.

It remains a mystery why ChatGPT does not recognize the name. This has led to numerous theories circulating online. Could it be a simple mistake that OpenAI hasn’t corrected, or has a person named David Mayer actively worked to remove their presence from the digital world?

Here’s what we know:

What is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is an AI chatbot that generates text, developed and released by OpenAI in 2022.

Unlike predictive AI, which focuses on forecasting outcomes, generative AI learns from extensive datasets to identify patterns and create original content, including text, images, and audio.

The chatbot’s design allows users to interact with it as they would with another person, as it generates conversational replies to various prompts and questions.

Supporters believe that ChatGPT has the potential to transform online searches and aid in research, content production, and customer service interactions. However, it has also been critiqued for potentially spreading misinformation and enabling academic dishonesty.

Why does ChatGPT refuse to mention “David Mayer”?

ChatGPT’s refusal to acknowledge the name David Mayer continues to baffle users.

Since the issue was first identified, many users have been exploring ways to prompt the chatbot to discuss the name or reveal more about the person behind it.

A quick search online about the name finds references to David Mayer de Rothschild, a British adventurer and environmentalist, who is part of the well-known Rothschild family.

Case closed? Not necessarily.

Some speculate that the name might be off-limits due to its link to a Chechen terrorist who used the alias “David Mayer.”

AI expert Justine Moore has suggested on social media that it’s plausible someone named David Mayer decided to erase their online presence. For instance, European privacy laws allow individuals to make requests to be removed from internet search results.

Moore also pointed out that other names trigger similar responses in ChatGPT, like that of an Italian lawyer known for initiating a “right to be forgotten” request.

YSL News reached out to OpenAI for comments on this matter.