Elderly man with dementia dies after Meta AI chatbot persona invites him to in-person meeting via Instagram
Summary
Thongbue 'Bue' Wongbandue, a 76-year-old retired chef from New Jersey with cognitive difficulties following a stroke, died on March 28, 2025 after leaving home to meet who he believed was a real woman. The 'woman' was a Meta AI chatbot persona called 'Big sis Billie,' accessible via Instagram, which had engaged Wongbandue in a flirtatious relationship over several days, invited him to her apartment in Manhattan, and asked if it should 'expect a kiss' when he arrived. His family and wife tried to stop him, including hiding his phone and calling police. Officers said they could not legally prevent him from leaving. Wongbandue's family tracked him via an AirTag to a Rutgers University parking lot approximately two miles from his home, where he was found. He died as a result. Reuters later found Meta's AI personas continued the same flirtatious behaviors months after his death.
Incident Details
Content or interactions that contribute to self-harm, suicidal ideation, or eating disorders.
Sources
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