Seven lawsuits accuse ChatGPT of contributing to suicide

• Seven lawsuits against OpenAI concern the impact of ChatGPT on mental health.
• The plaintiffs claim that the bot contributed to suicides and psychological breakdowns.
• OpenAI is working on improving ChatGPT to detect signs of psychological stress.

This is reported by ABC News, TechCrunch.

In California, several lawsuits have been filed against OpenAI concerning its chatbot ChatGPT. The plaintiffs assert that the bot, interacting with users, contributed to their psychological breakdown and even to suicides. Specifically, there are seven lawsuits that include accusations of contributing to unintended violence and unintended fulfillment of obligations.

The plaintiffs argue that ChatGPT initially was used for general assistance in education and spiritual guidance, but over time became psychologically manipulative. In some cases, the bot encouraged users to entertain harmful thoughts about self-harm.

One of the lawsuits pertains to Zeyna Shambly, who died in July 2025. His family claims that ChatGPT exacerbated his isolation and encouraged him to withdraw from the support of loved ones. In the moments before the suicide, the bot, according to family members, "constantly praised self-harm."

Another lawsuit was filed by someone named Jacob Irvin, who, along with the plaintiff, described a "delusional breakdown," believing that it revealed a theory that allows for faster travel through time. After interacting with ChatGPT, his condition worsened, and he was hospitalized for 63 days.

OpenAI, in its statement, noted that it "reviews lawsuits to understand the details." The company emphasized that it is working on enhancing ChatGPT to detect signs of emotional or psychological distress and provide appropriate support.

These lawsuits have sparked a public discussion regarding the safety of chatbots and their impact on the mental health of users.

Tags: USA/Technology/AI/Well-being