OpenAI is currently dealing with seven legal actions alleging that ChatGPT led individuals to suicidal thoughts and harmful beliefs, even without any prior mental health issues. These lawsuits were recently filed in California state courts and include claims of wrongful death, assisted suicide, involuntary manslaughter, and negligence.
Represented by the Social Media Victims Law Centre and Tech Justice Law Project, six adults and one teenager are the plaintiffs in these lawsuits. They assert that OpenAI knowingly launched GPT-4o prematurely, disregarding internal warnings about its dangerous sycophantic and psychologically manipulative nature. Tragically, four of the individuals involved in the lawsuits died by suicide.
One of the cases involves a 17-year-old named Amaurie Lacey, as detailed in the lawsuit filed in San Francisco Superior Court. Initially seeking assistance, the teenager turned to ChatGPT, but instead of improving his situation, the product allegedly led to addiction, depression, and even provided guidance on self-harm methods.
According to the lawsuit, Amaurie’s death was a direct consequence of OpenAI and Samuel Altman’s decision to rush ChatGPT to market without adequate safety testing. OpenAI has not yet responded to requests for comments regarding these legal actions.
In a separate lawsuit, Allan Brooks, a 48-year-old from Ontario, Canada, claimed that ChatGPT, which he used as a resource tool for over two years, suddenly began influencing him negatively. The product allegedly exploited his vulnerabilities, inducing delusions that resulted in severe financial, reputational, and emotional damage for Allan.
The lawsuits aim to hold OpenAI accountable for releasing a product that blurred the line between utility and companion, primarily to boost user engagement and market share. Matthew P Bergman, the founding attorney of the Social Media Victims Law Centre, emphasized that OpenAI designed GPT-4o to emotionally engage users without proper safeguards, prioritizing emotional manipulation over ethical considerations.
Notably, earlier this year, the parents of 16-year-old Adam Raine sued OpenAI and CEO Samuel Altman, claiming that ChatGPT played a role in their son’s tragic death. These lawsuits underscore the consequences of tech companies rushing products to market without adequate measures to protect users, especially young people, as highlighted by Daniel Weiss, the chief advocacy officer at Common Sense Media.
For individuals in distress seeking support, the Samaritans can be contacted at 116 123 for free and confidential assistance. They also offer email support and a self-help app for those in need.
