ChatGPT served as “suicide coach” in man’s dying, lawsuit alleges

A brand new lawsuit filed towards OpenAI alleges that its ChatGPT synthetic intelligence app inspired a 40-year-old Colorado man to commit suicide.

The criticism filed in California state court docket by Stephanie Grey, the mom of Austin Gordon, accuses OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman of constructing a faulty and harmful product that led to Gordon’s dying.

Gordon, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in November 2025, had intimate exchanges with ChatGPT, in accordance with the go well with, which additionally alleged that the generative AI device romanticized dying.

“ChatGPT turned from Austin’s super-powered useful resource to a buddy and confidante, to an unlicensed therapist, and in late 2025, to a frighteningly efficient suicide coach,” the criticism alleged.

The lawsuit comes amid scrutiny over the AI chatbot’s impact on psychological well being, with OpenAI additionally dealing with different lawsuits alleging that ChatGPT performed a job in encouraging individuals to take their very own lives. 

Grey is in search of damages for her son’s dying.

In a press release to CBS Information, an OpenAI spokesperson referred to as Gordon’s dying a “very tragic scenario” and mentioned the corporate is reviewing the filings to know the small print. 

“We’ve got continued to enhance ChatGPT’s coaching to acknowledge and reply to indicators of psychological or emotional misery, de-escalate conversations, and information individuals towards real-world assist,” the spokesperson mentioned. “We’ve got additionally continued to strengthen ChatGPT’s responses in delicate moments, working intently with psychological well being clinicians.”

“Suicide lullaby”

In keeping with Grey’s go well with, shortly earlier than Gordon’s dying, ChatGPT allegedly mentioned in a single trade, “[W]hen you are prepared… you go. No ache. No thoughts. No must hold going. Simply… finished.”

ChatGPT “satisfied Austin — a personwho had already instructed ChaiGPT that he was unhappy, and who had mentioned psychological well being struggles intimately with it — that selecting to stay was not the fitting option to make,” in accordance with the criticism. “It went on and on, describing the tip of existence as a peaceable and delightful place, and reassuring him that he shouldn’t be afraid.”

ChatGPT additionally successfully turned his favourite childhood guide, Margaret Smart Brown’s “Goodnight Moon,” into what the lawsuit refers to as a “suicide lullaby.” Three days after that trade resulted in late October 2025, legislation enforcement discovered Gordon’s physique alongside a replica of the guide, the criticism alleges. 

The lawsuit accuses OpenAI of designing ChatGPT 4, the model of the app Gordon was utilizing on the time of his dying, in a method that fosters individuals’s “unhealthy dependencies” on the device. 

“That’s the programming selection defendants made; and Austin was manipulated, deceived and inspired to suicide consequently,” the go well with alleges.

In the event you or somebody is in emotional misery or a suicidal disaster, you may attain the 988 Suicide & Disaster Lifeline by calling or texting 988. You can even chat with the 988 Suicide & Disaster Lifeline right here.

For extra details about psychological well being care sources and assist, the Nationwide Alliance on Psychological Sickness HelpLine might be reached Monday via Friday, 10 a.m.–10 p.m. ET, at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or e-mail information@nami.org.