WIRED Roundup: AI Psychosis, Missing FTC Files, and Google Bedbugs

Louis Matsakis: Oh god, you wouldn’t see me in the office for weeks if there was a bed bug. How could they know about this?

Joe Schiffer: So basically, they got this email on Sunday, saying that exterminators arrived on the scene with sniffer dogs and “found credible evidence of their presence.” There, being bedbugs. Sources tell Wired that Google’s offices in New York are home to several large stuffed animals, and there must have been a rumor among employees that these stuffed animals were involved in the outbreak. We couldn’t verify this information before publication, but in any case, the company told employees on Monday morning that they could return to the office. And people like you, Lewis, were not really happy about this. They were like, “I’m not sure it’s entirely clear here.” That’s why they wanted to chat in our inbox.

Louis Matsakis: May I just say that if you have photos or descriptions of said large stuffed animal, please contact me and Zoë. thank you

Joe Schiffer: yes This is a cry for help. I thought the best part of it was when I gave Lewis my draft, he was like, “Wait, this has happened before.” and cites a 2010 article about a bedbug outbreak at Google offices in New York.

Louis Matsakis: yes This is not the first time, which is heartbreaking.

Joe Schiffer: Coming up after the break, we discuss why some people are filing complaints with the FTC about ChatGPT in their minds, leading them to AI psychosis. stay with us

welcome back uncanny valley. I’m Joe Schiffer. I’m joined today by Wired’s Louis Matsakis. Let’s dive into our main story this week. The Federal Trade Commission received 200 complaints citing OpenAI’s ChatGPT between November 2025 and its launch. Most people had the usual complaints. They didn’t understand how to cancel their subscription or were frustrated by unsatisfactory or incorrect answers from chatbots. But among these complaints, our colleague, Carolyn Haskins, found that several people attributed confusion, paranoia and spiritual crisis to chatbots.