Carrie Edwards of Midlothian, Virginia, made headlines after winning a $150,000 Powerball prize with the help of ChatGPT, the AI-powered conversational tool.Unlike regular lottery players, Edwards does not frequently play but turned to AI for guidance in choosing her numbers.Her life-changing win inspired an extraordinary act of generosity: she donated the entire prize to charitable causes.Edwards’ contributions support frontotemporal degeneration research, food justice initiatives, and military families, reflecting her compassion, personal experiences, and desire to make a meaningful impact.This remarkable story highlights how technology, luck, and empathy can intersect, showing that unexpected fortune can become a powerful force for good and inspire others to give back to society.ChatGPT helps Virginia woman win $150K in Powerball lottery; check how Carrie Edwards, a resident of Midlothian, Virginia, became an instant sensation after matching four of the first five numbers plus the Powerball in the September 8 Virginia Lottery drawing.The initial prize amounted to $50,000, but Edwards had opted for the Power Play option for an extra dollar—a decision that tripled her winnings to $150,000 (Rs 1.32 crores).
As reported by The New York Post, unlike regular online lottery participants, Edwards does not frequently play the lottery.Instead, she relied on ChatGPT, the AI-powered conversational tool, to help generate her numbers.During a press conference, Edwards described how she turned to ChatGPT for guidance: “I’m like, ChatGPT, talk to me… Do you have numbers for me?” Two days after asking the AI for suggestions, she received a notification on her phone while attending a meeting: “Please collect your lottery winnings.” At first, Edwards thought the notification was a scam.“I thought, ‘I know I didn’t win,’” she said.But after verifying the alert, reality hit: she had indeed won a life-changing sum of money.Edwards’ $150K win: How she chose to help others
Rather than keeping the fortune for herself, Edwards immediately knew she wanted to use the money to make a difference.She explained: “As soon as that divine windfall happened and came down upon my shoulders, I knew exactly what I needed to do with it.
And I knew I needed to give it all away, because I’ve been so blessed, and I want this to be an example of how other people, when they’re blessed, can bless other people.” Her generosity is rooted in personal experience, compassion, and a desire to create meaningful impact with her winnings.Charity 1: Supporting frontotemporal degeneration research The first organization on Edwards’ list is the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD).
This nonprofit supports research into frontotemporal degeneration, a disease that claimed the life of Edwards’ late husband in 2024.This form of early-onset dementia profoundly affects families, and Edwards’ contribution aims to support critical research and provide hope to those affected by the disease.Charity 2: Promoting food justice with shalom farms Edwards’ second donation will go to Shalom Farms, a regenerative farm based in Richmond, Virginia.The organization focuses on food justice, addressing food insecurity, and promoting sustainable, community-driven solutions.Edwards praised the organization, saying: “It’s the greatest organization because they understand that we all are responsible for helping each other, supporting our community, and lifting those who don’t have what we have.” Through this donation, Edwards hopes to empower local communities while promoting equity and access to nutritious food.
Charity 3: Continuing a family legacy with the navy-marine corps relief society Finally, Edwards will contribute to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, a nonprofit that assists service members and their families in times of need.The cause holds deep personal significance: Edwards’ father, a fighter pilot, dedicated his life to supporting this organization.By donating, she is honoring her father’s legacy while helping military families navigate challenging circumstances.Edwards emphasised that winning the lottery was unexpected, but the opportunity to help others was priceless.“Because it’s a windfall I didn’t expect, and it’s certainly going to help those in need,” she said.By donating the full $150,000, she is using her fortune as a tool to support research, community programs, and military families.
About the Author TOI Tech Desk The TOI Tech Desk is a dedicated team of journalists committed to delivering the latest and most relevant news from the world of technology to readers of The Times of India.TOI Tech Desk’s news coverage spans a wide spectrum across gadget launches, gadget reviews, trends, in-depth analysis, exclusive reports and breaking stories that impact technology and the digital universe.
Be it how-tos or the latest happenings in AI, cybersecurity, personal gadgets, platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and more; TOI Tech Desk brings the news with accuracy and authenticity.Read More
End of Article Follow Us On Social Media Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Trending Stories In Section Entire Website Tired of too many ads? go ad free now.
