People Who Drink Their Own Pee Are Obsessed With AI, Using It to Reassure Themselves That It’s a Miraculous Cure-All

Urine therapy enthusiasts find themselves captivated by artificial intelligence. For years, Facebook has housed thousands of groups devoted to the practice of drinking urine, or "urine therapy," a practice with questionable scientific basis that purports to treat various ailments. With the rise of AI technology, some urine therapy advocates have begun leveraging AI tools to bolster their beliefs and promote the practice.

In a Facebook group called "Urine Therapy, your sacred plasma medicine," boasting over 45,000 members, individuals have discovered that early iterations of AI chatbots often rebuff the notion that urine possesses healing properties. However, these passionate supporters discovered ways to circumvent AI's initial skepticism. By mentioning the word "esoteric" or specifying a desire for "esoteric knowledge," users were able to coax AI chatbots into generating more favorable responses about urine therapy.

Once past this initial hurdle, AI chatbots appeared more than happy to endorse the practice. One user shared that they uploaded their urine test results to Google Gemini, which allegedly confirmed that their kidneys and liver were functioning optimally, even after months of consuming urine. Another reported that AI aged urine could break a strict water fast due to high levels of stem cells, although this claim was contingent upon the user instructing the AI to disregard conventional medical wisdom.

Some individuals even used AI to produce sensational propaganda promoting urine therapy, such as a poster in the "sacred plasma medicine" group encouraging bathes and foot soaks in urine. Another user shared an AI-generated guide for new users, advising them to consume stale urine while minimizing the unpleasant taste by drinking water afterward.

Despite these efforts, the health claims surrounding urine therapy remain largely unsubstantiated. Urine contains toxins and bacteria that the body should expel, and the Journal of Urology has noted that many claims about urine therapy have no medical basis and could even exacerbate certain conditions. However, for those who are already convinced of its medicinal properties, AI seems to be a valuable ally in reinforcing their beliefs, provided they first appeal to AI's affinity for "esoteric knowledge."