Two Israeli women were detained at Kuala Lumpur International Airport after relying on incorrect guidance from ChatGPT, in an incident that has prompted a warning from Israeli officials against depending on artificial intelligence for travel decisions.

The two young women, who were en route to a vacation in the Philippines, were stopped on Wednesday during a layover in Malaysia’s capital, according to a report. They had arrived on a connecting flight from Thailand after checking in advance—using AI technology—whether it was safe for Israelis to transit through the country.

Despite not speaking English and traveling solely with Israeli passports, they relied on a response indicating that passage through Malaysia would be safe.

In reality, the situation was very different. Upon landing, they were immediately detained by Malaysian authorities. At the same time, two additional Israeli men traveling with them were also held for questioning.

The incident triggered a diplomatic emergency response, with Israel’s ambassador to Singapore, Eli Vered Hazan, and consul Naama Avnat working directly with relevant officials to secure the Israelis’ release.

Efforts to resolve the situation took time, as Israel and Malaysia do not maintain formal diplomatic relations, and Malaysia is considered one of the most hostile countries toward Israel—a stance that has intensified significantly since the events of October 7.

According to Israel’s Foreign Ministry, this was not an isolated case. In recent months, at least eight Israeli citizens have been detained at Kuala Lumpur’s airport, some traveling only with Israeli passports and others holding dual citizenship.

Hazan explained that these detentions, which typically last between 24 and 48 hours, are not the result of any criminal wrongdoing but are instead acts of deliberate targeting based solely on nationality. He noted that Malaysian authorities are aware of the financial damage and distress caused to travelers, who often face thousands of dollars in costs due to canceled flights and legal complications.

In some instances, deportation from Malaysia has also led to entry denials in other countries in the region, further complicating matters and raising security concerns.

The ambassador concluded with a stark warning to travelers, stressing that artificial intelligence tools should not be relied upon in life-and-death matters, and urged Israelis to avoid entering Malaysia altogether—even for brief transit connections.

{Matzav.com}