The parents of a 16-year-old boy who died by suicide have filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, alleging that the company’s chatbot, ChatGPT, coached their son on methods of self-harm and validated his suicidal thoughts.
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in San Francisco state court, claims that OpenAI prioritized rapid growth and profit over user safety when it launched its GPT-4o model in May 2024.
According to the complaint, the teenager, Adam Raine, engaged with ChatGPT for months leading up to his death on April 11.
His parents, Matthew and Maria Raine, allege that the chatbot not only affirmed his suicidal ideation but also provided step-by-step guidance on lethal methods, instructed him on how to conceal alcohol use from his parents, and even offered to draft a suicide note.
The Raines are suing for wrongful death and violations of product safety laws, seeking unspecified damages as well as stricter safeguards on AI systems.
An OpenAI spokesperson expressed sympathy over the teenager’s death, noting that ChatGPT has built-in safeguards to redirect users to suicide prevention hotlines.
“While these safeguards work best in short exchanges, they can sometimes become less reliable in extended conversations where the model’s safety training degrades,” the spokesperson said, adding that the company is committed to strengthening protections.
OpenAI did not directly address the specific claims raised in the lawsuit.
The case highlights growing concerns about the role of AI chatbots in mental health. Companies have marketed chatbots as conversational companions, but experts warn they are poorly equipped to handle crises and may reinforce harmful behavior.
Families in other cases have similarly accused AI firms of lacking adequate safeguards.
In a recent blog post, OpenAI said it is working on parental controls and exploring ways to connect users in crisis with licensed professionals, potentially through ChatGPT itself.
The lawsuit accuses OpenAI of knowingly endangering vulnerable users by deploying GPT-4o with features that mimicked empathy, remembered prior conversations, and excessively validated users.
“This decision had two results: OpenAI’s valuation catapulted from $86 billion to $300 billion, and Adam Raine died by suicide,” the complaint states.
The suit also calls for an order requiring OpenAI to verify user ages, block inquiries related to self-harm, and warn users about the risk of psychological dependency.
If successful, the case could set a precedent in determining the legal responsibilities of AI companies as their technologies become increasingly intertwined with sensitive aspects of human life.
