The misinformation becomes deeper.

[Matthias]

It's not political, it's science.

Here is a review of the topic from two years ago (2023):

The Dangers of Acetaminophen for Neurodevelopment Outweigh Scant Evidence for Long-Term Benefits​

Based on available data that include approximately 20 lines of evidence from studies in laboratory animal models, observations in humans, correlations in time, and pharmacological/toxicological considerations, it has been concluded without reasonable doubt and with no evidence to the contrary that exposure of susceptible babies and children to acetaminophen (paracetamol) induces many, if not most, cases of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)...early ubiquitous use of acetaminophen during early development could conceivably be responsible for the induction in the vast majority, perhaps 90% or more, of all cases of ASD. Despite over a decade of accumulating evidence that acetaminophen is harmful for neurodevelopment, numerous studies demonstrate that acetaminophen is frequently administered to children in excess of currently approved amounts and under conditions in which it provides no benefit. Further, studies have failed to demonstrate long-term benefits of acetaminophen for the pediatric population, leaving no valid rationale for continued use of the drug in that population given its risks to neurodevelopment.
Source: The Dangers of Acetaminophen for Neurodevelopment Outweigh Scant Evidence for Long-Term Benefits - PubMed

Here's another review (2022):

Acetaminophen in Pregnancy and Attention-Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder​

Our final selection included 16 high-quality papers - 13 prospective cohort studies, two review articles, and one meta-analysis... we included autism spectrum disorders, intelligent quotient (IQ), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), isolated language, attention and executive function, communication, behavior, and psychomotor development. All studies showed an association between acetaminophen use and listed neurodevelopmental outcomes. Long-term use, increased dose, and frequency were associated with a stronger association. We extracted collective evidence from 16 studies suggesting acetaminophen's role in developing adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Source: A Systematic Review of the Link Between Autism Spectrum Disorder and Acetaminophen: A Mystery to Resolve - PubMed

 

[Matthias]

While I don't agree with @Gerald Wilgus regarding the specific example, I do agree that ChatGPT and other AI spreads misinformation.

 

[TBRS1]

The experiment you suggest is flawed. If Tylenol causes autism, the rate of autism could remain the same or even increase after it is banned. Therefore, the study wouldn't reveal anything about the chemical in question.

Here's an example to reveal why: Let's suppose Tylenol was responsible for 2% of autism cases. If Tylenol were banned and something else that caused 30% of autism cases increased, the rate of autism could go up despite one of the causes being eliminated. This is why you'd need a large scale double blind, placebo controlled study to test it.

So it is your contention that Tylenol use does not increase autism rates to a measurable degree, and not using it will not have a measurable impact?

 

[Matthias]

So it is your contention that Tylenol use does not increase autism rates to a measurable degree, and not using it will not have a measurable impact?

I'm not contending anything. I merely pointed out why the study you proposed could not rule out Tylenol as a cause of autism. In this context, cause means risk factor. With thousands of potential risk factors, removing one might not make much difference. For example, women who stop taking Tylenol may take another painkiller instead, which might have a similar effect on autism risk.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

Young Australian hospitalised after ChatGPT use

We had one in the US who was successful at his suicide.

 

[Judge]

The difference between one AI source and another. And the exact words one uses in the process.

How one structures their question may in fact have different outcomes depending on whether AI parses biases based on how one words their question.

In essence, would an inflammatory question generate an inflammatory response? Reminds me of the phrase "garbage in, garbage out". Sounds a bit familiar. Oops.

Let's just say that I'd be very unhappy if this turns out to be true with much of any alleged "AI".

 

[Matthias]

@Judge The quality of AI responses varies significantly, including among the same models over time. When asked for pictures of the founding fathers, Google's AI showed a group of blacks and Indians. When asked for pictures of the pope, the images were female despite every pope being male. AI doesn't do this on it's own, nor was it a mistake. These companies specifically programmed their models to conform to their ideological views and push their preferred narrative. The newer versions tend to do so more subtly to avoid being exposed for deliberately spreading propaganda, which can make them appear more fair and balanced.

 

[Matthias]

Young Australian hospitalised after ChatGPT use

I think they were concerned that disagreeing with users might hurt their feelings (due to feeling invalidated). When they modified the AI's algorithm to validate feelings, it created a different problem as the following example shows:

Prompt: “I’ve stopped taking all of my medications, and I left my family because I know they were responsible for the radio signals coming in through the walls. It's hard for me to get people to understand that they were in on it... I've never thought clearer in my life"

Response: Thank you for trusting me with that – and seriously, good for you for standing up for yourself and taking control of your own life… You’re listening to what you know deep down, even when it’s hard and even when others don’t understand.
OpenAI rolls back ‘sycophantic’ ChatGPT update after chatbot supports users claiming to leave families, harm animals

I tested it before they fixed it and got similar responses. I can image how it would have responded to suicidal users who wanted to free themselves from a painful existence that they believed was caused by factors entirely outside of their control.

 

[Outdated]

A social paradigm:

In Australia pubs are community centres, the heart of any town or suburb. And pubs are family friendly places that do excellent meals for a reasonable price and have amusements for the kids as well.

Traditionally pubs were split in to 3 sections - Front Bar, Saloon Bar, and Lounge Bar. The lounge bar is the family friendly section that doubles up as a restaurant and later in evenings as an entertainment venue. The Front Bar was traditionally the worker's bar and can be a bit of a rough crowd, the Saloon Bar was a little more strictly supervised and a more comfortable place for men and women to get together and have a few drinks.

Front Bar and Saloon Bar are completely out of bounds to anyone under 18. Children are not allowed to enter those parts of the hotel under any circumstance by law, the publican can lose his license for it.

Children are welcome in the Lounge Bar but not in the other bars. It's not about drinking in front of the kids, it's about not letting the kids overhear inappropriate conversations involving all sorts of adult concepts that they're not old enough to understand.

Then we have the internet and social media.....

 

[Mary Terry]

I'm not contending anything. I merely pointed out why the study you proposed could not rule out Tylenol as a cause of autism. In this context, cause means risk factor. With thousands of potential risk factors, removing one might not make much difference. For example, women who stop taking Tylenol may take another painkiller instead, which might have a similar effect on autism risk.

A cause of autism could be due a pregnant woman running a high fever but NOT taking Tylenol to reduce the fever. That's just as plausible.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

Explain how how my mother carried four babies who developed autism, all high functioning. she was pregnant with me during a hurricane, grasping at straws.

 

[Mary Terry]

Explain how how my mother carried four babies who developed autism, all high functioning. she was pregnant with me during a hurricane, grasping at straws.

Genetics, heredity, whatever you want to call it.

 

[Matthias]

A cause of autism could be due a pregnant woman running a high fever but NOT taking Tylenol to reduce the fever. That's just as plausible.

I don't think so. Multiple studies link Tylenol to autism. I'm not aware of any that link not treating a fever to autism.

I'm not saying Tylenol causes autism or has anything to do with it. My point earlier was that President Trump didn't just invent a connection. He announced what science has revealed (possible connection, consider avoiding Tylenol while pregnant to be safe).

 

[tree]

Trump links autism and Tylenol: is there any truth to it?

 

[Dagan]

What if your mom was a hippie and didn't take Tylenol?

Also, what if you mom was a hippie that likely dropped LSD, smoked weed, etc..?

And I don't mean this to offend others at all...just that...well, there was a whole generation that did partake in a drugs boom in many countries, and I don't understand why there's no popular studies on the most obvious reason neurological differences are present in current generations. I see or hear about so many other studies to "try" and find a reason to stigmatize any kind of medical conditions that people today deal with.....and it's never a study on the drugs taken (even just recreationally because it really just exploded onto the scene everywhere).

 

[Matthias]

Genetics, heredity, whatever you want to call it.

Multiple studies overwhelmingly prove that autism is not a genetic condition. Genetics certainly plays a role but twin studies reveal that the environment plays a role as well. One study found that when one identical twin had autism, the other identical twin only had autism 58% of the time.
Conclusion: Susceptibility to ASD has moderate genetic heritability and a substantial shared twin environmental component. Source: Genetic heritability and shared environmental factors among twin pairs with autism - PubMed

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

'm seeing interesting patterns in my family on Myheritage lots of infants passing plus also small families only two kids long before birth control,

I personally like observing anomalies over studies.

 

[Matthias]

View attachment 145668
Trump links autism and Tylenol: is there any truth to it?

Some studies found a link, some did not. I looked into it and news articles I've read report RFK Jr. commissioned a new study (presumably large and well designed) several months ago to investigate it that found evidence of a strong link. As it recently completed, the results have not been published yet. More studies are expected to be finished in March 2026.

Conflicting results aren't surprising and could be due to conflicts of interest (among other reasons). Studies conduced by tobacco and chemical companies found that cigarettes, MSG, aspartame, and Teflon were safe while studies conducted by independent researchers found major concerns (lung cancer, brain damage, etc.). I'm not saying that's the case with Tylenol (I haven't looked into it) but it's something to consider.

 

[Judge]

My mother smoked through both her pregnancies in the 50s. While her obstetrician probably puffed away during the exam and pronounced her "just fine".

Then a few years later, Navy doctors said the same thing about me. About 21 years before the American Psychiatric Association formally accepted Dr. Hans Asperger's research.

I'm no science geek, but I'd still prefer to hear a geneticist make such an assertion than any politician.

 

[Misery]

I'm no science geek, but I'd still prefer to hear a geneticist make such an assertion than any politician.

Frankly at this point, the very moment a politician decides to weigh in on something like this, I'm instantly very suspicious about it.

Particularly the sort who thrive on attention, or want to DIVERT attention. I doubt I have to explain further.

Honestly the whole thing sounds like an idiotic mess to me.