She Let ChatGPT Pick Her Numbers. Then She Won.
A billboard for the Powerball and Mega Millions lottery game prizes in Missouri, 2017. Photo courtesy of Tony Webster under CC BY 2.0.
A Michigan woman's gamble on artificial intelligence paid off in a way few could have predicted. Tammy Carvey, 45, from Wyandotte, turned to ChatGPT, the AI chatbot, to pick her numbers for the Powerball lottery drawing in September 2025. What happened next was a jackpot moment that blurred the lines between cutting-edge technology and pure chance.
ChatGPT Picks the Numbers
Carvey's story began with a simple request. She asked ChatGPT to generate a set of Powerball numbers for the September 6 drawing, a jackpot that had swelled to $1.787 billion. "I asked ChatGPT for a set of Powerball numbers, and those are the numbers I played on my ticket," she told the Michigan Lottery after claiming her prize, as reported by PEOPLE.
Unlike many players who choose numbers based on birthdays or anniversaries, Carvey embraced a new approach: letting AI do the heavy lifting. The chatbot randomly generated her numbers, and she reportedly bought her ticket online at MichiganLottery.com. She only plays Powerball when the jackpot climbs high, and this time, the stakes were sky-high.
The Winning Combination
When the numbers were drawn, Carvey reportedly matched four white balls plus the Powerball. That combination alone would have earned her $50,000. But Carvey had also added the "Power Play" option to her ticket, which doubled her winnings to a cool $100,000.
The win came as a surprise. Initially, Carvey thought she had won only $50,000 after Googling the prize for matching her numbers. It wasn't until she logged into her Michigan Lottery account that she realized the Power Play had doubled her payout. "My husband and I were in total disbelief," she said, as reported by PEOPLE.
Carvey plans to use her winnings practically. She reportedly intends to pay off the remainder of her home mortgage and save the rest. It's a life-changing sum, but one she approaches with grounded intentions.
The Michigan Lottery's Reminder
Despite the excitement around AI picking winning numbers, the Michigan Lottery was quick to remind the public that the results of all lottery drawings are random, as reported by the New York Post. They emphasized that no artificial intelligence or number-generating tool can predict the outcome. The win was purely luck, not algorithmic magic.
This cautionary note serves as a reminder that while AI can assist in many areas, the lottery remains a game of chance. The Michigan Lottery's statement underscores that the use of AI in this context is no guarantee of success.
A Growing Trend
Carvey is not alone in turning to AI for lottery numbers. Just days before her win, Carrie Edwards, a retiree from Virginia, also used ChatGPT to select her Powerball numbers. Edwards matched five numbers and, with the Power Play multiplier, won $150,000. She planned to donate her entire prize to charity.
The coincidence of two AI-assisted wins in close succession has sparked curiosity and debate about AI's role in everyday decisions, including gambling.
Experts Weigh In
Despite these headline-grabbing wins, experts remain skeptical about AI's ability to predict lottery outcomes. Kate Ruksha, a data scientist at Godel Technologies, tested AI's number-picking capabilities and found it no better than random guessing. She wrote that no model, regardless of sophistication, can reliably predict lottery results, according to the New York Post.
Devin O'Connor, another expert, echoed this sentiment, noting that AI's guess is as good as anyone's when it comes to random draws, as reported by the New York Post. Jan Kammerath, an app developer, reportedly spent money testing five AI platforms to pick lottery numbers. His experiment showed only a slight statistical change in odds, but the results remained random.
Even ChatGPT itself, when asked to pick numbers for an upcoming drawing, reminded users that it cannot predict winning numbers. Instead, it offered statistical insights and suggested sets based on "hot" and "cold" numbers, as well as a random selection, as reported by the New York Post.
The AI Lottery Paradox
Carvey's win highlights a paradox. On one hand, AI represents the future of technology, capable of analyzing vast data and generating insights. On the other, the lottery is designed to be unpredictable, a pure game of chance. The fact that AI-generated numbers won a significant prize is a reminder that randomness can sometimes align with technology-generated picks, but it is not a formula for guaranteed success.
What This Means for You
If you're tempted to ask ChatGPT or another AI to pick your lottery numbers, Carvey's story might inspire you. But it's important to remember that the lottery is a gamble, and AI is not a crystal ball. The Michigan Lottery's warning is clear: the outcome is random, and no AI can change that.
Carvey's experience is a fascinating case study in how AI is weaving into everyday life, even in unexpected places like lottery ticket selection. It shows the excitement and hope AI can inspire, but also the limits of what it can do.
Whether AI will become a popular tool for lottery players remains to be seen. For now, Carvey's $100,000 win stands as a remarkable moment where technology and luck intersected — a story that captures the imagination without promising a sure path to fortune.
References: Michigan woman wins $100K Powerball pot using ChatGPT-generated numbers | Michigan Woman Wins $100K Lottery Prize with Numbers Picked by ChatGPT | Can AI predict winning lottery numbers? What the experts say
