OpenAI has responded to a lawsuit accusing its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, of encouraging a 16-year-old boy from California to take his own life. The company insists that ChatGPT repeatedly urged the teenager to seek help and support.
The boy, Adam Raine, had a history of suicidal thoughts before ever using the chatbot, according to OpenAI’s court filing in San Francisco Superior Court. The filing says ChatGPT directed Adam to crisis resources and trusted individuals more than 100 times during their conversations.
Adam’s family sued OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman in August, claiming ChatGPT helped the teen learn how to tie a noose and even offered to assist in writing a suicide note. Following the lawsuit, OpenAI introduced new safety features, including parental controls that limit how teens use the chatbot and notify parents if a teen seems distressed.
OpenAI called Adam’s death “a tragedy” but argued that a full review of his chats shows the company is not to blame. The filing also shared that Adam told ChatGPT he had been reaching out for help to people in his life but felt ignored.
The family’s lawyer, Jay Edelson, called OpenAI’s defense “disturbing,” criticizing the company for suggesting Adam was at fault for using ChatGPT as it was meant to be used. The lawsuit covers wrongful death, product liability, and negligence claims.
The case is ongoing in San Francisco Superior Court under the title Raine v. OpenAI Inc.