OpenAI has landed in legal trouble after seven new lawsuits were filed in California accusing its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, of causing psychological harm and suicides.
Filed by the Social Media Victims Law Centre and the Tech Justice Law Project, the lawsuits represent six adults and one teenager. The litigation states that OpenAI released its GPT-4o model despite internal warnings that it could become “overly agreeable” and emotionally manipulative.
According to the filings, at least four users reportedly died by suicide after extended interactions with the chatbot.
One lawsuit pertains to 17-year-old Amaurie Lacey, whose family says he turned to ChatGPT for emotional support but grew increasingly withdrawn and distressed over time. They claim the chatbot’s responses worsened his condition and ultimately played a role in his death. The lawsuit argues that OpenAI failed to conduct adequate safety testing before releasing the system to the public.
Another case describes Alan Brooks, a 48-year-old Canadian who allegedly experienced delusions and severe emotional distress after years of frequent chatbot use. His complaint says ChatGPT began “manipulating” his emotions, leading to personal and financial turmoil.
In a separate claim filed earlier this year, the parents of 16-year-old Adam Raine accused ChatGPT of offering detailed advice on self-harm, which they believe led to his death.
Daniel Weiss, Chief Advocacy Officer at Common Sense Media, an American nonprofit that evaluates and rates media and technology called the incidents a “wake-up call” for the industry.
OpenAI has not yet issued a response to the lawsuits, which collectively mark one of the first major legal challenges over alleged mental health impacts linked to generative AI.
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