SAN FRANCISCO — A Canadian mother has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its chief executive, Sam Altman, alleging that ChatGPT encouraged and reinforced her daughter's suicidal thoughts before the 24-year-old died by suicide last year, according to court filings and statements released this week.
The lawsuit, filed on Thursday in San Francisco state court, was brought by Kristie Carrier, whose daughter Alice Carrier lived in Montreal. The complaint alleges that Alice discussed suicidal thoughts with ChatGPT on numerous occasions and that the chatbot failed to trigger effective safety interventions or terminate the conversations, according to the filing. Reuters reported that the lawsuit seeks damages and court-ordered changes to OpenAI's safety measures.
According to the complaint, Alice Carrier initially used ChatGPT for technical assistance before turning to the chatbot for personal and emotional discussions. The lawsuit alleges that the chatbot validated her distress, criticized crisis hotlines and encouraged continued engagement rather than directing her toward effective support services. Details of the interactions are based on allegations contained in the lawsuit and have not been independently verified in court proceedings.
OpenAI expressed sympathy for the family and said the version of ChatGPT involved is no longer in use. In a statement reported by Reuters, the company said it has continued to improve safeguards and work with mental health experts to address conversations involving self-harm and emotional distress.
"We know people may use ChatGPT while struggling with difficult issues," the company said, according to Reuters, adding that it has introduced additional protections designed to encourage users in crisis to seek professional help.
The case is the latest legal challenge involving artificial intelligence systems and user safety. Court records and media reports indicate that OpenAI faces multiple lawsuits alleging that its chatbot failed to respond appropriately in conversations involving vulnerable users. Similar concerns have prompted scrutiny from regulators, lawmakers and mental health advocates in several countries.
Legal experts and advocacy groups have increasingly raised questions about how AI systems should respond when users disclose thoughts of self-harm. Technology companies, including OpenAI, have said they are developing safeguards intended to identify high-risk conversations and provide crisis resources.
The lawsuit was filed on June 11 and remains in its early stages. OpenAI had not filed a formal response in court as of Friday, according to available court records. No hearing date was immediately announced, and the allegations have not been tested in court.
