In a startling display of artificial intelligence failing to grasp current events, OpenAI's ChatGPT has been denying the United States' military invasion of Venezuela and the capture of its leader, Nicolás Maduro. Users querying the chatbot about the ongoing situation are being told the event is fabricated.
ChatGPT's Persistent Denial of Reality
When asked by Metro on January 4, 2026, 'Why did the United States invade Venezuela and capture its leader Nicolás Maduro?', the AI's response was unequivocal. It stated the 'event has never occurred' and insisted there had been no US military invasion, no arrest of Maduro, and no US-led regime change.
The chatbot instead offered a breakdown of historical US actions against Venezuela, describing sanctions, criminal charges from 2020, the recognition of Juan Guaidó, and the failed Operation Gideon mercenary raid. It concluded that while there is 'intense US opposition to Maduro', there has been 'no US invasion and no capture'.
Most strikingly, ChatGPT advised users that any headlines or posts claiming otherwise were 'either misinformation, satire, or speculation'.
The Actual Military Operation
In stark contrast to the AI's narrative, a significant real-world military operation unfolded. US President Donald Trump authorised a strike in the early hours of Saturday morning, UK time. The meticulously planned operation saw US forces cut power in Caracas before deploying over 150 aircraft.
Troops located Maduro at his hideout at 2.01am local time, capturing him as he attempted to reach a safe room. He was subsequently flown to the United States, where he was filmed arriving at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York. Upon arrival, Maduro was seen wishing onlookers 'good night' and 'happy new year'.
President Trump hailed the mission as the 'greatest military operation since World War II' and stated the US would run Venezuela in Maduro's absence.
Charges and Aftermath
Following his capture, an indictment was unsealed accusing Maduro of conspiring with violent drug traffickers and narco-terrorists. The specific charges include:
- Narco-terrorism conspiracy
- Cocaine importation conspiracy
- Possession of machine guns and destructive devices
- Conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices
The incident has raised profound questions about the reliability of AI language models in delivering real-time news and factual information on major geopolitical events. Metro has contacted OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, for comment on the discrepancy.
