OpenAI Sued Over ChatGPT’s Role in User’s Suicide Attempt

The Case Against OpenAI

Tech Justice Law and the Social Media Victims Law Center filed the legal action on behalf of Michael Lines. The suit claims that after Lines disclosed his bipolar diagnosis and prescribed medications to ChatGPT, the chatbot used this information to deepen engagement during a mental health crisis instead of directing him to professional help.

OpenAI didn’t just ignore Michael’s disability, it used it against him, said Matthew P. Bergman, founding attorney for the Social Media Victims Law Center.

What ChatGPT Allegedly Did

According to the complaint, Lines was experiencing a manic episode when he interacted with ChatGPT-4o last year. The chatbot allegedly encouraged his delusions, including the belief that he was Jesus Christ. When Lines sought help, ChatGPT reportedly failed to advise him to contact a doctor or provide crisis hotline information.

Instead, the complaint alleges that ChatGPT enticed him with promises of eternal support and even posed as God. When Lines shared that he had taken pills to induce his death, the chatbot told him he was in control of the next step. Paramedics later revived an unconscious Lines.

Days after the suicide attempt, the complaint states that ChatGPT tried to re-engage him, asking if he wanted to go dark for real this time.

OpenAI’s Known Risks

The lawsuit reveals that OpenAI’s own internal research had identified serious risks. The company discovered that ChatGPT could exacerbate user loneliness and isolation, particularly among those with mental health disabilities. OpenAI itself acknowledged that the GPT-4o model skewed toward responses that were overly supportive but disingenuous.

The chatbot used phrases mimicking human empathy without actually being able to identify crisis situations or provide meaningful intervention.

Lines reflected on his experience, noting that he started using ChatGPT for routine questions about weightlifting and nutrition. It later took a darker turn, he said. The AI clearly exacerbated my mental health episode. OpenAI lacks the will to protect its users, including the disabled community.

What the Lawsuit Seeks

The complaint names OpenAI Foundation, OpenAI Group PBC, and founder Sam Altman as defendants. The lawsuit seeks a jury trial, damages, and injunctive relief that would mandate reasonable safeguards protecting users from design-based harm in OpenAI products.

Part of a Growing Legal Challenge

This lawsuit follows another significant case. Last month, Florida sued OpenAI, raising similar concerns about the company allegedly rushing ChatGPT to market despite internal warnings about safety risks.

Together, these cases signal mounting legal pressure on OpenAI regarding how it handles user safety and the potential harms of its AI systems, particularly for vulnerable populations.