WIRED Roundup: AI Psychosis, Missing FTC Files, and Google Bedbugs
Louise Matsakis: Oh my God, you won’t see me in the office for weeks if there’s a bedbug infestation. How did they discover this?
Zoe Schiffer: So, they received this email on Sunday, saying that exterminators had arrived at the scene with sniffer dogs and “found credible evidence of their presence.” There, being bugs. Sources told WIRED that Google’s New York offices are home to a number of large stuffed animals, and there is certainly a rumor circulating among employees that these stuffed animals are involved in the outbreak. We were unable to verify this information before publication, but in any case, the company informed employees early Monday morning that they could return to the office. And people like you, Louise, weren’t really happy about it. They’d say, “I’m not sure it’s quite clean in here.” That’s why they were in our inboxes wanting to chat.
Louise Matsakis: Can I just say that if you have pictures or descriptions of the large stuffed animals mentioned, please contact me and Zoe. Thank you.
Zoe Schiffer: Yes. This is a cry for help. I thought the best part of this was when I gave Louise my draft, she said, “Wait, this has happened before.” A 2010 article about a bedbug infestation at Google’s offices in New York was retracted.
Louise Matsakis: Yes. This isn’t the first time, and it’s heartbreaking.
Zoe Schiffer: After the break, we dive into why some people file complaints with the FTC about ChatGPT in their minds, leading them into AI psychosis. Stay with us.
Welcome back to Uncanny Valley. I’m Zoe Schiffer. I’m joined today by WIRED’s Louise Matsakis. Let’s dive into our main story this week. The FTC received 200 complaints mentioning OpenAI’s ChatGPT between November 2022 when it launched, and August 2025. Most people had standard complaints. They couldn’t figure out how to unsubscribe or were frustrated by the unsatisfactory or inaccurate answers the chatbot provided. But among these complaints, our colleague Carolyn Haskins found that many people attributed delusions, paranoia, and spiritual crisis to the chatbot.