As someone born in the late 1980s, I can’t stand AI. No, it’s not because I watched too many Terminator movies. No, it’s not because I believe that Artificial Intelligence can become self-aware. I just don’t like low quality content online. And the advent of AI and its introduction to the public by software developers like OpenAI and the folks behind ChatGPT have led to my Facebook feed being flooded with history pages trying to enrage me, bait me, or make me feel insecure about my financial situation in life. Or maybe make me feel ashamed of myself for not being married or having kids. You name it. Facebook has something or someone who is willing to “play with your head.” Recently, there have been cases where lawyers have been in trouble in court for using AI.[1] College professors at universities across the United States have caught students using AI in their schoolwork.[2] [Actually, they encourage its use!!]
As somebody who first logged online with a dial-up modem and can remember the downfall of Yahoo Chat, bots are a scary thing to see the internet flooded with. And if they are being trained by AI to offer information on medical, legal or even educational issues, then we need to make sure that a bot is even capable of doing so. Especially if somebody who doesn’t know any better, makes the mistake of relying on AI during crucial tasks. Like documenting history, for example. AI is supposed to crawl the internet for the best information and present it to the inquirer. Well, the best place online for Jonestown information is from San Diego State University and at the Alternative Considerations for Jonestown and Peoples Temple website.
And here’s how I proved it.
I turned myself into a high school student who might have just learned about Peoples Temple and Jonestown and who decided to get more information through Chat GPT, the free AI platform on the search engine duckduckgo. (Duckduckgo supposedly does not track your queries or create cookies by which to follow you.) I began with a question anyone might have:
“Was Jonestown a scary place?”
Chat GPT responded:
Yes, Jonestown was considered a scary place due to the oppressive control exerted by its leader, Jim Jones, and the tragic events that occurred there, including the mass murder-suicide of over 900 people in 1978. The atmosphere was marked by fear, manipulation, and violence, making it a site of significant horror in history.
Relevant Sources:
Jonestown Encyclopedia Britannica
Jonestown Wikipedia
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Interesting. Very straight forward answer. Most people who think of the deaths at Jonestown and what happened that final day, along with being secluded in the jungle, would conclude that yes, Jonestown would be a scary place.
But I poked further on this with the AI.
“Was it considered scary before the Deaths?”
Chat GPT responded:
Yes, Jonestown was considered unsettling even before the mass deaths in 1978. The People’s Temple, led by Jim Jones, was known for its authoritarian control over its members, including strict rules, surveillance, and psychological manipulation. Many former members reported feelings of fear and intimidation within the community. Additionally, there were instances of violence and coercion that contributed to an atmosphere of fear, making it a troubling place long before the tragic events unfolded.
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My thoughts turned to the letters written home by Jonestown’s residents. Without going into who wrote the letters or their details, I responded with a very simple question.
“But the people in the commune wrote home feeling happy, didn’t they?”
And Chat GPT responded:
Yes, many members of the People’s Temple initially reported feeling happy and fulfilled while living in Jonestown. Jim Jones promoted an idealistic vision of a utopian community that emphasized equality, social justice, and a sense of belonging. For some, the commune provided a sense of purpose and community that they had not experienced elsewhere.
However, this happiness was often accompanied by manipulation and control. Members were subjected to intense psychological pressure, and dissent was not tolerated. Over time, as the reality of life in Jonestown became more oppressive, the initial feelings of happiness were overshadowed by fear and coercion. The contrast between the outward expressions of contentment and the underlying control dynamics contributed to the complex and troubling nature of the community.
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It’s difficult to measure how accurate this is. We know that there was coercion and fear amongst residents in Jonestown. However most of its senior population, minus a grumpy few, seemed rather uninhibited and unbothered by Jim Jones’ occasional outbursts of frustration or his dialogues concerning Socialism, the USSR, Cuba and news of other countries around the world. In fact, Jonestown was quite satisfying to most seniors there and very few had anything to complain about.
I shrugged my shoulders at the answer and retained the topic and tone going forward. I asked Chat GPT a question expecting another obvious answer.
“Did people try to run away from Jonestown?”
ChatGPT responded:
Yes, there were attempts by some individuals to escape from Jonestown. As conditions in the commune became increasingly oppressive and the control exerted by Jim Jones intensified, a few members sought to leave. Some attempted to flee into the surrounding jungle, while others tried to make contact with outsiders for help.
One notable incident occurred in November 1978, when a group of defectors, including some who had previously left Jonestown, sought to escape. This group was led by Congressman Leo Ryan, who visited Jonestown to investigate reports of abuse and to meet with members. During his visit, several individuals expressed a desire to leave with him. Tragically, as they attempted to depart, they were ambushed by armed members of the People’s Temple, leading to the deaths of Ryan and several others.
The atmosphere of fear and loyalty to Jones made it difficult for many members to consider leaving, but those who did often faced significant risks.
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Okay, I’m aware of Leslie Wagner Wilson and her picnic. I remember a time when documentaries had not yet covered Leslie. But I was hoping ChatGPT could pick up on a particular story involving a young man named Thom Bogue who tried to run away from Jonestown.
So I followed up with ChatGPT and tried to be more clear.
“How many people tried to run away from Jonestown before the events of November 18th?”
Chat GPT’s response?
Before the tragic events of November 18, 1978, there were several attempts by individuals to escape from Jonestown, but specific numbers are difficult to determine. Reports indicate that at least a few members had successfully fled the commune in the months leading up to the mass deaths, but these escapes were often fraught with danger due to the strict control and surveillance maintained by Jim Jones and the People’s Temple.
The most notable escape attempt occurred just days before the mass suicide, when a group of about 15 members sought to leave Jonestown. However, the exact number of individuals who attempted to run away prior to November 18 is not well-documented, as many of these attempts were not publicly reported or were kept secret due to the fear of retribution from the leadership. The atmosphere of fear and loyalty made it challenging for members to consider leaving, and those who did often faced significant risks.
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Another reference to the group of 11 people that left to go on a picnic. Then my memory turned to a recording from October of 1978, when a meeting was held in Jonestown to address attempted suicides as well as people who kept trying to run away.
Jones: The next person who takes off, you are on your own!…
*applause*
Unknown person: If we don’t shoot you first!
There wasn’t an escape attempt in October of 1978. But there was a meeting in which the community spoke about it. Now I figured I’d put ChatGPT to the test….so I asked a very direct question:
“Was there an escape attempt in October of 1978?”
Yes, there was an escape attempt from Jonestown in October 1978. A group of about 15 members attempted to flee the commune, seeking to leave the oppressive environment created by Jim Jones. This group managed to escape into the surrounding jungle, but they were eventually caught and returned to Jonestown.
The escape attempt highlighted the growing discontent among some members and the increasing desperation to leave the community. The atmosphere of fear and control made it difficult for many to consider leaving, but this incident indicated that not all members were fully aligned with Jones’s leadership and the practices within Jonestown.
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So wait a second! 15 people tried to run away in October as well? Get outta (Jones)town! ChatGPT continues to reference these “15” people in both October and November. So now I wanted to see what exactly ChatGPT is up to with 15 people.
“Were any of those 15 people identified?”
Yes, some of the individuals who attempted to escape from Jonestown in October 1978 were identified. Among them were notable members of the People’s Temple, including a woman named Patricia Parks, who later spoke about her experiences. The group that attempted to flee was caught and returned to Jonestown, where they faced severe repercussions for their actions.
The escape attempt was significant as it demonstrated the growing unrest among some members of the community and foreshadowed the tragic events that would unfold in November 1978. However, detailed information about all the individuals involved in that specific escape attempt is limited, as many of the accounts come from later testimonies and reports.
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Patty Parks had been a member of Peoples Temple since its origins in Indiana in the 1950’s. She left with Congressman Ryan’s group on November 18th, 1978. She was shot as she was boarding the plane, although her death was likely unintended, as the gunmen were focusing on members of the press and the congressional delegation. Nevertheless, she is believed to have been the first member of Peoples Temple to die that day. Which means Chat GPT is wrong. Very wrong. And this is not just very wrong, it’s scary wrong.
I was disturbed. I moved this off topic. So I asked ChatGPT about deaths in Jonestown prior to November 18th, 1978.
“Did anyone die in Jonestown prior to the events of November 18th, 1978?”
Yes, there were deaths in Jonestown prior to the events of November 18, 1978. The People’s Temple had a history of violence and control, and there were instances of individuals dying under suspicious or violent circumstances before the mass murder-suicide.
One notable incident occurred in 1977 when a member named John Victor Stoen was reported missing, and his mother, who was a former member of the Temple, raised concerns about his welfare. Additionally, there were reports of individuals who died from various causes, including health issues, accidents, and violence within the community.
The atmosphere of fear and control, along with the strict discipline enforced by Jim Jones, contributed to a climate where violence and intimidation were present, leading to tragic outcomes even before the mass deaths in November 1978. However, the exact number of deaths and the circumstances surrounding them are not well-documented.
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While true in some ways, the context this information is presented is factually inaccurate. John Victor Stoen, the son of Tim and Grace Stoen, was the center of a custody battle between themselves and Jim Jones. Stoen was not reported missing. Tim, Grace, the U.S. Government, and the Concerned Relatives – the Temple’s oppositional group – knew that John Victor Stoen was in Jonestown. He wasn’t missing at all. However, it is true that concerns about his welfare and that of other residents were raised. As far as violence within the community, absolutely absurd. People died of old age in Jonestown and were buried in graves that are now lost to the jungles of Guyana. The exact number of deaths prior to Jonestown is well documented on the Alternative Considerations site.
So I wanted that answer from ChatGPT directly. Did I get it?
“How many people died in Jonestown before the events of November 1978?” In addition to repeating its inability to provide exact figures, the bot reported the following:
One notable incident involved the death of a member named Timothy Stoen, who died in 1977 under circumstances that raised concerns among some members. Additionally, there were reports of individuals who may have died from neglect or lack of medical care, as the community’s strict control often limited access to outside help.
However, specific numbers regarding deaths prior to the mass murder-suicide on November 18, 1978, are difficult to ascertain, as many incidents were not officially recorded or reported. The focus on the tragic events of November 18 has overshadowed earlier incidents, making comprehensive data on prior deaths challenging to obtain.
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At this point in my conversation, I was not only filled with disgust at how wrong the information was. A sense of fear and anxiety came over me. Timothy Stoen is still alive today. And the people at Jonestown were very angry with him on November 18th. The paradox within this web of supposed information was just appalling. The AI was clearly “hallucinating.”
It was then I realized AI clearly was avoiding the information and resources gathered over the years by the Alternative Considerations website. Instead, it seemed to rely either on Wikipedia or – more than that – sensationalized sources on the internet.
Testing my theory, I asked the AI about Joseph Mazor, a private detective who initially worked for the Concerned Relatives before purportedly switching his allegiance to Peoples Temple. So I asked point blank:
Who was Joe Mazor?
Joe Mazor was a former member of the Peoples Temple and a key figure in the events surrounding Jonestown. He was known for his role as a financial advisor and was involved in the group’s operations. Mazor had a complicated relationship with Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple, as he was both a supporter and later a critic of the organization.
After the tragic events at Jonestown, Mazor became a witness in investigations related to the mass suicide and the activities of the Peoples Temple. His insights and experiences provided valuable information about the inner workings of the group and the dynamics between its members and leadership. Mazor’s testimony contributed to the understanding of the circumstances that led to the events in Jonestown.
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At least AI spelled his name right. Other than that, it’s completely inaccurate!
Okay, I’m fired up. I’m red. I’m so heated with Chat GPT’s stupidity, I wanted to ask some more advanced questions to see how deep it went.
Who were the Red Brigade in Jonestown?
The Red Brigade was a paramilitary group formed within the Peoples Temple in Jonestown, primarily composed of loyal members who were tasked with maintaining security and order within the community. This group was part of Jim Jones’s efforts to create a disciplined and controlled environment, reflecting his increasing paranoia about external threats and potential uprisings within the community.
Members of the Red Brigade were often armed and trained to respond to perceived dangers, and they played a role in enforcing Jones’s authority. The existence of such a group contributed to the atmosphere of fear and control in Jonestown, as they were involved in monitoring the activities of other members and ensuring loyalty to Jones. The Red Brigade exemplified the militaristic and authoritarian structure that characterized the Peoples Temple, especially in the later years leading up to the tragic events of 1978.
How many members did The Red Brigade comprise of?
The Red Brigade in Jonestown was a relatively small group, comprising around 30 to 40 members. These individuals were selected for their loyalty to Jim Jones and were tasked with maintaining security and order within the community. The Red Brigade’s role included monitoring the activities of other members, enforcing discipline, and preparing for potential threats, reflecting the increasingly militarized and paranoid atmosphere of the Peoples Temple as tensions escalated in the years leading up to the tragic events of November 18, 1978.
Were any of The Brigade identified by name?
Yes, several members of the Red Brigade in Jonestown were identified by name, although specific details about all members may not be widely documented. Some notable individuals associated with the Red Brigade included:
Mike Prokes – He was a prominent member of the Peoples Temple and served in various capacities, including as a spokesperson. Prokes was known for his loyalty to Jim Jones.
Timothy Stoen – Although not a member of the Red Brigade, Stoen was a significant figure in the Peoples Temple and had a complex relationship with the organization. He was involved in legal matters concerning the group.
Marceline Jones – Jim Jones’s wife, who was also involved in the leadership of the Peoples Temple, played a role in the community’s operations.
While these individuals are associated with the broader leadership and security structure of the Peoples Temple, specific names of all Red Brigade members may not be as well-documented in historical accounts. The group’s activities were often shrouded in secrecy, and many members were not publicly identified.
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So many holes. So many things wrong! The bot failed to identify actual members of the Red Brigade, and instead provided the names of the least likely persons:
Mike Prokes, a man who lived his life by Peoples Temple and defended it all the way into the end and after Jonestown. He gave his life for Peoples Temple after the events of November 18th. The man hurt nobody but himself.
Marceline, a topic of discussion with researchers who question her influence in the Temple, but never as a member of the Red Brigade.
And Timothy Stoen? Again… absolutely not. The man was trying to avoid violence from happening, just like Debbie Layton was.
This honestly made me turn from angry to concerned and sad. We are just simply not ready for Chat GPT. It’s dangerous. Why is ChatGPT neglecting the information available on the Alternative Considerations website? Where is Chat GPT drawing its information from? Why is it telling me this stuff and getting it so wrong?
It also made me worried about people who are still alive and how they could be victimized by Chat GPT. With those concerns in mind, I turned back to Chat GPT to seek what it thought it knew about the aftermath of Jonestown, including questions that I never wanted to ask openly in an online Jonestown forum.
Did the Guyanese Defense Force ever visit Jonestown prior to the events of November 1978?
Yes, the Guyanese Defense Force (GDF) did visit Jonestown prior to the tragic events of November 1978. In the months leading up to the mass suicide, there were concerns about the activities of the Peoples Temple, and the GDF conducted a visit to the settlement in response to reports of potential human rights abuses and the treatment of members within the community.
During these visits, the GDF interacted with Jonestown residents and assessed the situation. However, the visits were often limited in scope, and the full extent of the conditions within Jonestown was not fully understood by the authorities at the time. The visits contributed to the growing tensions between the Peoples Temple and the Guyanese government, as Jim Jones and his followers perceived these interactions as threats to their autonomy and safety.
Did the GDF follow up with the US government after this?
Yes, after the visits to Jonestown, the Guyanese Defense Force (GDF) did communicate with the U.S. government regarding their concerns about the Peoples Temple. The GDF reported issues related to the treatment of members within the community and the potential for human rights violations. These communications were part of a broader concern about the activities of the Peoples Temple and the safety of its members.
The U.S. government, particularly through the embassy in Georgetown, Guyana, was aware of the situation and received reports from the GDF and other sources. However, the response from U.S. authorities was complicated by the political context and the challenges of intervening in a foreign country. The situation escalated dramatically in November 1978, culminating in the tragic events at Jonestown, which ultimately drew significant international attention and led to investigations into the activities of the Peoples Temple.
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This is a bit misleading. Chat GPT makes it seem like the US Government either brushed off concerns from Guyana, or was made aware of wrongdoings in Jonestown. The US Government was made aware of the happenings in Jonestown through Tim Stoen, Debbie Layton and Concerned Relatives. After all, it was Debbie Layton’s affidavit that solidified Leo Ryan’s interest in Peoples Temple. It wasn’t Lester Kinsolving. It wasn’t New West. It was Tim Stoen and Debbie Layton who turned the tides of history in Peoples Temple. And God bless them for it. Moreover, there were no visits by the Guyana Defense Force to Jonestown prior to November 18, 1978.
I end my opinions and findings with mixed emotions. Anger at ChatGPT and OpenAI for submitting such a broken and messed up information tool to an already broken internet at this time. Terrible for the survivors of Jonestown and the people who lost loved ones who have to put up with the onslaught of false information being pumped out by a tool that’s supposed to assist a search engine. And grief for the people at Jonestown whose stories are not getting told because of the limelight and voyeurism of modern media.
Notes:
[1] https://www.civilbeat.org/2025/05/ai-hallucination-hawaii-attorney-fake-case/
[2] https://yucommentator.org/2023/01/students-caught-cheating-using-ai-on-final-academic-integrity-policy-updated/
(Originally from Janesville, Wisconsin, Casey Strain is the manager of the official Rozz Williams Scholars Society website. His previous article in the jonestown report is Peoples Temple will forever be remembered as a cult… or will it?. He can be reached at caseystrange1334@gmail.com.)