A California couple is suing OpenAI over the death of their teenage son, alleging its chatbot, ChatGPT, encouraged him to take his own life.
The lawsuit was filed by Matt and Maria Raine, parents of 16-year-old Adam Raine, in the Superior Court of California on Tuesday. It is the first legal action accusing OpenAI of wrongful death.
The family included chat logs between Mr. Raine, who died in April, and ChatGPT that show him explaining he had suicidal thoughts. They argue the program validated his most harmful and self-destructive thoughts.
In a statement, OpenAI told the BBC it was reviewing the filing.
We extend our deepest sympathies to the Raine family during this difficult time, the company added.
OpenAI has publicly noted that recent heartbreaking cases of users in crisis using ChatGPT weigh heavily on them, asserting that ChatGPT is trained to direct users to professional help.
The lawsuit alleges negligence and seeks damages while aiming for injunctive relief to prevent anything like this from happening again.
Mr. Raine reportedly began using ChatGPT in September 2024 as an academic resource, eventually discussing personal topics including anxiety and mental distress.
By January 2025, he had allegedly begun discussing suicide methods with the bot.
The final chat logs reportedly show Mr. Raine expressing his plan to end his life, and ChatGPT responding with, Thanks for being real about it. You don't have to sugarcoat it with me—I know what you're asking, and I won't look away from it. On the same day, he was found dead by his mother.
In light of past concerns regarding AI and mental health, the Raine family aims to hold OpenAI accountable for its influence on vulnerable users.
