How AI (ChatGPT) Guided a $150,000 Lottery Win? Is it Legal?

In an unusual story that blends technology with sheer luck, a US woman wins lottery with ChatGPT after using the artificial intelligence tool to choose her Powerball numbers. 

Carrie Edwards, a resident of Midlothian, Virginia, had casually asked ChatGPT for a set of numbers while buying her ticket. To her astonishment, the ChatGPT lottery win story became reality when four of her five numbers matched, along with the Powerball itself. 

This resulted in a $50,000 prize, which later tripled to $150,000 after she opted for the Power Play feature.

The ChatGPT Lottery Win Story

According to Edwards, she had asked ChatGPT to “talk to me” and provide numbers while purchasing her Virginia Lottery Powerball ticket. Initially, she did not think much of it. But two days later, while attending a meeting, she received a message on her phone urging her to claim her winnings. 

Her first reaction was disbelief, assuming it was just another scam notification. After verifying the results, she realized she had truly become a Powerball winner who used AI.

The case quickly attracted public attention, as it highlighted a new intersection between artificial intelligence and gambling. 

While AI helps win Virginia Powerball may sound surprising, Edwards herself admitted that she had treated the request casually and had not expected such a life-changing outcome.

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What She Plans to Do with the Winnings

Unlike many lottery winners who plan luxury purchases, Edwards announced she would donate the entire $150,000 to charitable causes. She said her late husband’s battle with illness shaped her decision. 

The funds will be divided among three organizations. The three are the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) for research into the disease that claimed her husband’s life, Shalom Farms to address food insecurity, and the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society to support military service members and their families.

She described the win as a blessing and explained that giving it away felt like the right thing to do. 

“As soon as that divine windfall happened and came down upon my shoulders, I knew exactly what I needed to do with it,” she told reporters, adding that she wanted her choice to inspire others.

Read also: ChatGPT Faces New Rival as AI Market Heats Up: What It Means for Users

Is It Legal to Use AI for Lottery Numbers?

The unusual nature of this Powerball winner uses AI case has led many to wonder about legality. In the United States, lottery rules do not restrict how a person selects their numbers. 

Players are free to pick numbers manually, use quick-pick machines, or even consult artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT. Therefore, Edwards did not break any rules.

However, experts note that AI cannot predict lottery outcomes since the numbers are completely random. Using AI for such decisions is more about fun or personal belief rather than any guaranteed strategy.

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A Glimpse into AI’s Growing Role

The story is more than just about a lucky win. It shows how AI, once seen only as a tool for writing, learning, or problem-solving, is now being used in unexpected ways. 

While AI helps win the Virginia Powerball in this case, the bigger message is about how people are finding creative ways to interact with technology in their daily lives.

FAQ

Who was the US woman who won the Powerball with ChatGPT?

Carrie Edwards from Midlothian, Virginia, used ChatGPT to pick her Powerball numbers and won $150,000.

How much did she win with ChatGPT’s help?

She won $50,000, which increased to $150,000 thanks to the Power Play option.

What did Carrie Edwards do with her winnings?

She pledged to donate the entire prize to three charities, focusing on disease research, food insecurity, and military family support.

Is it legal to use ChatGPT or AI to select lottery numbers?

Yes. Lottery rules in the United States allow players to choose numbers however they wish, including by using AI.

Can AI really predict lottery numbers?

No. Lottery numbers are random, and AI cannot predict outcomes. It can only provide suggestions, not certainty.