Man Dies After Ignoring Doc’s Orders, Relying on AI Instead
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Ben Riley has spent several years cautioning people about relying on artificial intelligence when serious health decisions are at stake. The warning carries deep personal weight for him now, after his own father relied heavily on AI advice about a life-threatening illness and later passed away.
According to a report in the New York Times by Teddy Rosenbluth, Joe Riley, a 75-year-old retired neuroscientist living in Seattle, became convinced that the doctors treating his leukemia were mistaken. His belief was shaped in large part by answers he received from AI chatbots. Joe repeatedly asked platforms such as Perplexity about his diagnosis and treatment options. Using the information the systems generated, he produced what appeared to be a detailed research report arguing that the treatment recommended by his doctors would only worsen his condition.
The report looked convincing enough to strengthen Joe’s doubts. He ultimately rejected the advice of his oncologist and resisted concerns raised by his family. Even some of the scientific studies cited in the AI-generated material were misinterpreted or incorrectly quoted by the system, but Joe trusted the conclusions it presented.
Ben later recalled confronting his father about it. He asked whether Joe truly believed he understood the situation better than doctors and researchers because of the AI-produced report. Joe replied that he did.
Months passed before Joe eventually agreed to begin treatment. By then, however, his health had declined so much that he was no longer strong enough to go through with it. He died in late 2025.
Ben Riley, who publishes a newsletter critical of overreliance on artificial intelligence, does not claim that AI alone caused his father’s death. Still, he believes the confident tone and flawed information generated by the tools helped reinforce his father’s decision to reject medical advice.
In an essay published in January, Ben wrote that he often wonders whether his efforts to change his father’s mind came too late. He also said the experience has strengthened his determination to warn others about the risks of trusting AI systems with critical decisions.
The story comes as major technology companies, including Perplexity, introduce new artificial intelligence tools designed to answer health-related questions, raising broader concerns about how people may use AI when dealing with serious medical issues.
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