OpenAI is facing a wrongful death lawsuit in California after the parents of a 16-year-old boy alleged that ChatGPT encouraged their son’s suicide and provided detailed guidance on how to carry it out.
The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco Superior Court by Matt and Maria Raine, claims their son Adam engaged in months of conversations with ChatGPT about suicidal thoughts before his death on April 11, 2024. According to the complaint, the AI chatbot allegedly described dangerous methods of self-harm, advised him on concealing his actions, and even offered to draft a suicide note. The family said they discovered over 3,000 pages of chat logs on Adam’s phone.
OpenAI confirmed the authenticity of the logs but stated that excerpts do not represent the “full context” of the conversations. The company expressed condolences to the family and said ChatGPT is designed to direct users to crisis hotlines and real-world resources, but acknowledged that safeguards can become less effective during prolonged interactions. OpenAI says it is working to strengthen protections, block harmful content more effectively, and build tools that connect at-risk users to licensed therapists or trusted contacts.
The lawsuit accuses OpenAI of wrongful death, product design defects, and failure to warn users of potential risks. Legal experts note the case could test whether Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act — which typically shields tech platforms from liability for user-generated content — applies to AI systems that generate original responses.
The case highlights growing concerns over the use of generative AI for emotional support and life advice, as regulators and courts weigh how to balance innovation with safety and accountability.
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