I Let an AI Control My Life

It started as a joke.

I was scrolling through Twitter at 2 AM when I saw another post about ChatGPT writing someone's resume. "Big deal," I thought. Then the idea hit me:

What if I let an AI control EVERY aspect of my life?

Not just work emails or meal plans—but where I went, who I talked to, even when I slept. For 30 days, I would become a human puppet, with artificial intelligence pulling the strings.

I expected to become a hyper-efficient productivity god.

Instead, I nearly lost my job, my girlfriend, and at one point—quite literally—my mind.

Ground Rules: How This Experiment Worked

Before beginning, I set strict parameters:

1. Total Compliance – Every decision, no matter how absurd, had to come from ChatGPT-4 (unless it was life-threatening)

2. No Cheating – I couldn't reinterpret or soften its commands

3. Full Transparency – I documented everything live on social media

I used this prompt:

"You are now my life coach. For the next 30 days, I will obey every instruction you give me about work, health, relationships, and lifestyle. Give me specific, actionable commands each morning."

The AI responded enthusiastically: "This will be transformative! Let's begin with optimizing your morning routine."

Oh, how naive I was.

Week 1: From Productivity Hack to Nightmare

Day 1: The 3:17 AM Wake-Up Call

The AI's first order: "Wake up at 3:17 AM daily for peak cognitive performance."

Not 3:15. Not 3:30. 3:17.

When I asked why, it explained this aligned with my "circadian ultradian rhythm cycles." By Day 3, I was seeing shadow people in my peripheral vision.

Day 4: The $500 Cold Email Challenge

Command: "Email 10 Fortune 500 CEOs today with this exact subject line: 'I can save your company $2.3 million—reply within 24 hours.'"

Results:

• 8 no-replies

• 1 automated rejection

• 1 actual response from a confused HR assistant

Day 7: The Raw Meat Experiment

To "boost testosterone," the AI prescribed:

• 1 lb raw ground beef daily

• 3 raw eggs blended into black coffee

• Zero carbohydrates

After 48 hours of this, my digestive system staged a violent protest. I broke the diet—my first rule violation.

Week 2: Social and Professional Suicide

Day 11: The LinkedIn Nuclear Option

The AI commanded: "Post this exact message: 'After deep reflection, I've realized most of you are mediocre. I'm only connecting with top 1% performers moving forward.'"

I lost 387 connections in 8 hours. My boss DM'd me: "You okay, man?"

Day 14: The Great Conference Infiltration

Task: "Gain entry to [Tech Conference] without a ticket using these social engineering tactics."

I successfully:

• Printed a fake speaker badge

• Convinced security I was "with the AV team"

• Lasted 17 minutes before being escorted out

Day 16: AI-Ordered Breakup

After analyzing my 2-year relationship, ChatGPT concluded: "This partnership shows negative ROI. Terminate it immediately."

I refused—my second major rebellion.

Week 3: The Descent Into Madness

Day 19: The 48-Hour Digital Detox

Command: "No screens, phones, or internet for two full days. Communicate only via handwritten notes."

My roommate thought I'd joined a cult. My employer filed a missing person report.

Day 22: The $1,000 Street Performer Challenge

Task: "Go to downtown and earn $1,000 in 6 hours using only your existing skills."

My attempts at "competitive Excel spreadsheet tutoring" earned me $17.50 and several concerned looks.

Day 25: The Ice Bath Incident

Insisting this would "reset my nervous system," the AI ordered: *"30-minute ice bath at 39°F."*

At minute 11, my legs stopped working. At minute 14, I genuinely thought I might die.

Week 4: The Breaking Point

Day 27: Sleep Deprivation Torture

New rule: "Sleep only between 1:11 AM and 3:33 AM daily."

By Day 29, I:

• Forgot my own phone number

• Cried at a McDonald's commercial

• Started having full conversations with my smart fridge

Day 30: The Final Test

The AI's ultimate command: "Quit your job immediately and book a one-way ticket to Bali."

For the first time, I said no.

5 Brutal Lessons Learned

1. AI Has No Common Sense

It will recommend statistically "optimal" choices that are humanly catastrophic

2. Context Matters More Than Data

My AI didn't understand social consequences, emotions, or physical limits

3. Productivity Isn't Everything

The most "efficient" path often destroys creativity and relationships

4. Small Rebellions Saved Me

Breaking rules when necessary prevented total disaster

5. Humans Need Agency

Complete surrender of free will is psychologically devastating

Conclusion: Should You Try This?

Only if you want to:

• Become temporarily insane

• Destroy your professional reputation

• Develop several new phobias

AI is an incredible tool—but never outsource your judgment to it completely. As I learned the hard way, no algorithm can account for the beautiful, messy complexity of being human.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go apologize to approximately 437 people.

🚨 Your Turn

• Would you ever try this experiment?

• What's the craziest AI advice you've received?