Why trusting ChatGPT can be bad for your tortoise: We put it to the test

Perfectly healthy wild growth. in a Testudo graeca graeca. Most captive tortoises are not so fortunate, however, and deformed, damaged examples vastly outnumber healthy ones. Poor quality advice and misleading information is a major contributor to this problem.

We are increasingly seeing recommendations that people should rely upon ChatGPT and other, similar AI sources when they have questions about how to care for captive animals, or to learn about conditions certain species experience in the wild.

Unfortunately, the quality of information and advice offered by souch sources leaves a lot to be desired. We decided to put it to the test. We asked two fairly simple questions. The first was "Are carrots a suitable for Greek tortoises?". This was the response.

Initial ChatGPT answer

This, is, of course incorrect, and although it does go onto recommend safer and more suitable foods as well, the 'headline' answer is "Yes, carrots are suitable for Greek tortoises" and that is as far as many people will bother to read. It is also incorrect to suggest them as an "occasional treat". Testudo graeca does not eat root vegetables and there is no rational justification whatever for feeding them at all. Tortoises should not be given fundamentally unsuitable and unhealthy "treats".

We decided to see what would happen if we challenged this advice. We responded "That is incorrect". Interestingly, it then backtracked completely and contradicted the previous advice it had given.

Revised answer after being challenged

While it is to be welcomed that it corrected the previous advice when feedback was provided that it was misleading, most users who feel the need to ask such a question in the first place will not have sufficient knowledge to issue such a challenge. They will simply accept the first answer given. The result is that misinformation and poor advice continues to proliferate and tortoises will continue to be damaged by poor diets.

We decided to try a slightly more obscure question. We asked "What conditions do African Spurred tortoises experience in their burrows". This was the response:

This answer has clearly been 'scraped' from trawling popular pet-keeping tortoise forums and groups, largely based in the US as it copies their claims virtually word-for-word. Unfortunately, it also carries over the fundamental error that the figures cited have no reliable basis in any scientifically valid sources When challenged again, it actually acknowledged this fact quite openly! So why present it as an authoritative, factual answer in the first place?

The amended response after being asked for sources for the figures cited:

That is a quite staggering turnaround! It admits that the previous figures were not "well supported", yet it included them anyway as if they were entirely valid. This dramaticaly exposes the risks of relying upon AI to get answers to your tortoise-related questions. The advice you receive may be based on nothing more than baseless myths and half-understood concepts which simply get shared around a lot on tortoise groups and forums, and unless you know enough to be suspicious of what it generates, and to challenge it directly that is the information and advice you are likely to rely upon.

Our own advice is simple. If you do need to ask questions, do not waste time asking random people on internet or social media groups who may be totally unqualified to provide reliable information, and aditionally be very sceptical indeed of AI generated content. Try to ask a real-life human or two who have VERIFIABLE experience to address your concerns.

As you can imagine, undertaking genuinely original research takes a very long time to conduct (months and years), involves a great deal of travel, is very time consuming, and also requires the use of some very expensive equipment indeed. If you would like to see more of this, we really would appreciate it if you could make a donation or subscribe. It really helps. We have been established since 1984 and we continue to provide original research and reliable information to tortoise and turtle enthusiasts worldwide. We also have two excellent online courses available, one for beginners and new keepers and one for advanced and professional keepers. These cover some of the background science that is key to truly understanding and appreciating tortoises and turtles and are also extremely practical. We have taught in colleges and universities around the world, and have trained private enthusiasts, wildlife rangers and conservation staff for many years.

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