A widow from Virginia said that used ChatGPT to choose lottery numbers and ended up winning 150 thousand dollars. The case went viral and revived the discussion about whether these tools can influence chance or if everything is pure chance.
It is about Carrie Edwardsthat she was not a recurring player of the lotterybut one day it occurred to him to test the artificial intelligence and decided to load a ticket for the Powerballthe lottery that is played in 45 US states.
How Powerball works and what numbers the winner chose
The system of Powerball It’s simple, it’s about getting five right. numbersfrom 1 to 69 and an extra number, from 1 to 26. According to statistics, the chances of winning are minimal: 1 in 292,201,338.
With that data and with the advice he gave ChatGPT, Carrie sealed the ticketand before doing so, he added one more dollar for the activation of the Power play, a detail that ended up favoring her.
«You know this is all about pure luck, right?» was what ChatGPT He warned Carrie, before telling her the numbers for the lottery. Despite this warning, she maintained her stance of trusting the artificial intelligence.
Carrie Edwards and her striking decision with the award.The day of draw y Carrie received a big surprise. He got it right, neither more nor less, four of the five numbers main and also the Powerball special. That combination usually pays about 50 thousand dollars, but the Powerplay tripled the figure to 150 thousand dollars.
What the winner did with the Powerball prize
Upon receiving the notification on her phone that she had won a prize, Carrie thought it was a scam. But no: the message came from the same lottery house where he had placed his bet. “Please withdraw your lottery prize,” it said.
When he found out that it was real, his first reaction was to ask himself: “What do I do with this money?”
Far from dreaming of buying a high-end car or going on vacation, Carrie Edwards decided to donate all the money to different ONG (non-profit organizations).
Carrie Edwards rarely played the lottery, but something pushed her to try her luck. She went to ChatGPT to help her pick the winning numbers.
She won $150,000 in a Powerball drawing and decided to donate it all to her most cherished charities. https://t.co/GeylFNnfXf pic.twitter.com/EUITEkhAcf
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) November 16, 2025
One of the donations went to AFTD (Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration). Esta association supports those suffering from different types of dementia and chose her for her ex-husband, who died in 2024 after being diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
The second donation was for Shalom Farmsa organization that works together to build healthy communities by growing and distributing nutritious food. The widow mentioned that she visited the farm frequently and that she was part of it.
And as a third and final contribution, Carrie decided to donate a portion of the money to the Navy-Marine Relief Societya sociedad relief organization that offers services to active duty sailors, Marines and their families who are experiencing financial difficulties.
ChatGpt and its capabilities. Photo: Shutterstock.
Artificial intelligence and lottery: prediction or coincidence?
Las lotteries clarify that the results of the earnings are 100% random and it is impossible for any type of artificial intelligence can predict the winning numbers.
The tickets of the Powerball They are sold in all 45 US states, the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
All the winning tickets They must be redeemed in the state or jurisdiction in which they were sold.
