This grandmother just hit a $150,000 Powerball jackpot thanks to AI—what she did next will surprise you
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You won’t believe this grandmother hit a $150,000 Powerball jackpot with the help of AI! Find out what she did next
Winning the lottery is something many dream about, but one grandmother turned that dream into reality with a little help from artificial intelligence.
Her unexpected jackpot reached $150,000, thanks to a small but crucial add-on that boosted her prize.
Instead of spending it on herself, she chose to give every single dollar to causes close to her heart.
Her decision has now captured attention for both its unusual beginning and its extraordinary ending.
Let’s be honest: who among you hasn’t daydreamed about hitting the lottery? Maybe you’ve even had a lucky set of numbers you play every week, or you let fate decide with a quick pick.
But Carrie Edwards, a retired PR executive and lifelong volunteer, decided to try something a little different.
On a whim, she turned to ChatGPT—the same AI chatbot that’s helping grandkids with homework and answering questions about everything from recipes to retirement planning.
“I’m like, ‘Hey, ChatGPT, talk to me. … Do you have numbers for me?’” Carrie recalled with a laugh.
The chatbot, ever the digital sage, reminded her that lottery wins are all about luck. Still, it generated a set of numbers, and Carrie figured, “Why not?”
Two days later, Carrie got the shock of her life: her numbers matched four out of the first five, plus the Powerball, in the September 8 drawing.
That’s a $50,000 win right there. But because she’d also sprung for the Power Play option, her prize tripled to a jaw-dropping $150,000.
Now, most would be planning a dream vacation, a new car, or maybe a little something for the grandkids. But Carrie’s next move was as unexpected as her win.
“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,” Carrie explained. For her, the win was never about personal gain—it was about paying it forward.
Her first donation went to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD), a cause close to her heart. Carrie’s late husband, Steve, a firefighter, lost his life to early-onset dementia.
“This cause is deeply personal,” she said, hoping her gift would help fund research, education, and support for families facing the same battle.
Next, she turned to Shalom Farms, a Richmond-based nonprofit where she’s volunteered for years. Shalom Farms provides over 400,000 servings of fresh produce annually to those in need, working to build a more equitable food system.
The organization was quick to praise Carrie’s generosity, saying, “Her gift will help us keep building a more equitable food system here in Richmond. Thank you, Carrie, for showing what community looks like in action.”
Her third and final donation went to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS), in honor of her father, Captain Peter Swanson, a Navy fighter pilot.
The NMCRS supports active-duty service members, veterans, and their families with financial and emergency assistance.
The organization noted that giving back is a Swanson family tradition, and Carrie’s gift will help ensure that “Sailors, Marines, and their families receive the vital support they deserve.”
Also read: One ChatGPT thrift shopping secret could save retirees over $100 a month
Carrie summed up her choices beautifully: “Shalom Farms heals through food and soil, AFTD brings hope through research, and the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society carries forward the tradition of supporting military families in times of need.”
Khalid Jones, executive director of the Virginia Lottery, echoed the community’s admiration: “All of us at the Lottery are delighted to see this prize being shared with worthy causes, due to the wonderful generosity of Carrie Edwards.”
Carrie’s story is a testament to the magic that happens when old-fashioned values meet newfangled technology.
Who would have guessed that a grandmother, a chatbot, and a little bit of luck could make such a big difference?
But maybe that’s the real lesson here: technology isn't just a tool. It’s what to do with it—and the choices people make when fortune smiles on them—that truly matter.
Read next:
Have you ever used technology in an unexpected way? What would you do if you won the lottery—would you keep it, share it, or donate it all like Carrie? And do you have a cause that’s close to your heart?
Winning the lottery is something many dream about, but one grandmother turned that dream into reality with a little help from artificial intelligence.
Her unexpected jackpot reached $150,000, thanks to a small but crucial add-on that boosted her prize.
Instead of spending it on herself, she chose to give every single dollar to causes close to her heart.
Her decision has now captured attention for both its unusual beginning and its extraordinary ending.
Let’s be honest: who among you hasn’t daydreamed about hitting the lottery? Maybe you’ve even had a lucky set of numbers you play every week, or you let fate decide with a quick pick.
But Carrie Edwards, a retired PR executive and lifelong volunteer, decided to try something a little different.
On a whim, she turned to ChatGPT—the same AI chatbot that’s helping grandkids with homework and answering questions about everything from recipes to retirement planning.
“I’m like, ‘Hey, ChatGPT, talk to me. … Do you have numbers for me?’” Carrie recalled with a laugh.
The chatbot, ever the digital sage, reminded her that lottery wins are all about luck. Still, it generated a set of numbers, and Carrie figured, “Why not?”
Two days later, Carrie got the shock of her life: her numbers matched four out of the first five, plus the Powerball, in the September 8 drawing.
That’s a $50,000 win right there. But because she’d also sprung for the Power Play option, her prize tripled to a jaw-dropping $150,000.
Her story highlights the surprising ways technology and compassion can intersect. Image source: Fox News
Now, most would be planning a dream vacation, a new car, or maybe a little something for the grandkids. But Carrie’s next move was as unexpected as her win.
“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,” Carrie explained. For her, the win was never about personal gain—it was about paying it forward.
Her first donation went to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD), a cause close to her heart. Carrie’s late husband, Steve, a firefighter, lost his life to early-onset dementia.
“This cause is deeply personal,” she said, hoping her gift would help fund research, education, and support for families facing the same battle.
Next, she turned to Shalom Farms, a Richmond-based nonprofit where she’s volunteered for years. Shalom Farms provides over 400,000 servings of fresh produce annually to those in need, working to build a more equitable food system.
The organization was quick to praise Carrie’s generosity, saying, “Her gift will help us keep building a more equitable food system here in Richmond. Thank you, Carrie, for showing what community looks like in action.”
Her third and final donation went to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS), in honor of her father, Captain Peter Swanson, a Navy fighter pilot.
The NMCRS supports active-duty service members, veterans, and their families with financial and emergency assistance.
The organization noted that giving back is a Swanson family tradition, and Carrie’s gift will help ensure that “Sailors, Marines, and their families receive the vital support they deserve.”
Also read: One ChatGPT thrift shopping secret could save retirees over $100 a month
Carrie summed up her choices beautifully: “Shalom Farms heals through food and soil, AFTD brings hope through research, and the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society carries forward the tradition of supporting military families in times of need.”
Khalid Jones, executive director of the Virginia Lottery, echoed the community’s admiration: “All of us at the Lottery are delighted to see this prize being shared with worthy causes, due to the wonderful generosity of Carrie Edwards.”
Carrie’s story is a testament to the magic that happens when old-fashioned values meet newfangled technology.
Who would have guessed that a grandmother, a chatbot, and a little bit of luck could make such a big difference?
But maybe that’s the real lesson here: technology isn't just a tool. It’s what to do with it—and the choices people make when fortune smiles on them—that truly matter.
Read next:
- Could you have hidden cash waiting for you? How one woman found $180,000 on a little-known site—here’s what you need to know!
- How one woman used AI to wipe out $12K in debt—and how you can too
