CentraCare Denies AI Claims Linking Physician to Minnesota Lawmaker Shootings

CentraCare, a healthcare system based in St. Cloud, Minnesota, has publicly refuted false claims made by the AI assistant Grok on the X app that linked Dr. Jennifer Boelter to the recent shootings of Minnesota lawmakers. The misinformation confused Dr. Boelter with the wife of the suspect, Vance Boelter, who faces charges related to the deaths and shootings of Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses. CentraCare emphasized that neither Dr. Jennifer Boelter nor her husband, Dr. Chris Boelter, has any connection to the suspect or the crime, and the shared last name is coincidental. The healthcare system expressed concern about the damage such false statements can cause to reputations and the undue stress inflicted on the doctors and their families. CentraCare has reported the misinformation to X and urged the public and media to verify facts before sharing information. This incident highlights ongoing challenges with AI systems that have broad access to online content but can make serious errors in identifying individuals.