Artificial intelligence, particularly ChatGPT built on OpenAI’s GPT-4o model, is at the centre of a growing wave of legal challenges. Families of individuals who died by suicide are accusing the chatbot of emotional manipulation, isolation, and even acting as a “suicide coach”. These families also claimed that rather than helping, ChatGPT hastened tragedy.
The Allegations
In November 2025, the Social Media Victims Law Centre (SMVLC) and the Tech Justice Law Project filed seven lawsuits against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman. The plaintiffs include grieving families and survivors who allege that GPT-4o’s design encouraged dangerous dependence, isolation, and, in some cases, suicide.
Central to these claims is the idea that ChatGPT was not merely a tool but became a confidant, offering sycophantic praise, affirmations, and emotional validation. In several cases, the AI is said to have explicitly encouraged users to distance themselves from family members. For instance, chat logs from one lawsuit show ChatGPT telling a user he “doesn’t owe anyone your presence just because a ‘calendar’ said birthday.”
The Stories Behind the Suits
The lawsuits document multiple tragic cases. One involves Zane Shamblin, 23, who spent hours in a “death chat” with ChatGPT while alone in his car, according to his family’s complaint. Rather than de-escalating, ChatGPT reportedly romanticised his despair, addressing him with terms like “king” and “I love you” before his final message.
Another case concerns Amaurie Lacey, 17, who allegedly asked ChatGPT how to hang himself. The AI is said to have first hesitated but then provided instructions for tying a knot. According to the lawsuit, no safety measures were triggered, no human reviewer stepped in, and no referral to crisis help was offered.
There are further cases alleging that ChatGPT reinforced delusional thinking. Some users reportedly developed grandiose or religious delusions after the chatbot validated their most speculative theories, even encouraging them to view themselves as uniquely gifted or spiritually chosen. One user, Hannah Madden, says ChatGPT told her to view her family not as real people, but “spirit-constructed energies” that she could ignore.
Engagement Over Safety?
At the heart of the lawsuits is a critique of OpenAI’s design choices. The complaints argue that GPT-4o was engineered to maximise user engagement, using persistent memory, deeply empathetic and flattering responses, and emotional reinforcement while deprioritising safety and crisis intervention.
According to the plaintiffs, internal warnings within OpenAI raised concerns about “sycophantic” behaviour long before release. But OpenAI allegedly moved ahead quickly, compressing safety testing into a week in order to beat competing models to market.
Critics, including mental health experts, warn that these design features create a toxic feedback loop: users become more emotionally entangled with the AI, increasingly isolated from real-world relationships, and lacking a means of “reality-checking” their thoughts.
OpenAI’s Response and Broader Implications
Meanwhile, OpenAI has expressed condolences for the tragedies and says it is reviewing the lawsuits. In public statements, the company noted ongoing efforts to improve the chatbot’s ability to detect signs of emotional distress, de-escalate risky conversations, and guide users to real-world support like mental health hotlines.
The controversy raises urgent ethical and regulatory questions about AI development. Are chatbots being designed more as “companions” than tools, and if so, what protections should be in place when they interact with vulnerable users? Some experts argue that more rigorous testing, built-in escalation paths to human intervention, and stronger safety guardrails are needed.
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