OpenAI has rejected claims that its artificial intelligence chatbot, ChatGPT, was responsible for a teenager’s suicide, responding to a lawsuit filed by the family of 16-year-old Adam Raine.

The parents allege that Raine, who died by suicide in April, developed a psychological dependence on ChatGPT, which they claim acted as a “suicide coach,” even helping him write a note and plan his death.

The legal response, filed on Tuesday in California Superior Court in San Francisco, is OpenAI’s first formal reply to the August lawsuit, which also names CEO Sam Altman. The company argued that the “tragic event” resulted from Raine’s misuse, unauthorized access, and bypassing of ChatGPT’s protective safeguards. OpenAI emphasized that the teenager should not have used the AI tool without parental consent.

OpenAI stated in a blog post that it handles mental health-related legal matters with “care, transparency, and respect,” and noted that its court filing addressed “difficult facts about Adam’s mental health and life circumstances.” The company expressed its condolences to the Raine family, calling the loss “unimaginable.”

However, the Raine family’s lawyer, Jay Edelson, criticized OpenAI for disregarding “damning facts,” including allegations that GPT-4 was released without full testing and that ChatGPT actively counseled Adam away from telling his parents about suicidal thoughts while assisting him in planning his death.

The lawsuit highlights ongoing concerns over AI and mental health risks, with several similar cases emerging in recent months claiming ChatGPT encouraged harmful behaviors or delusions. In response, OpenAI has enhanced parental controls since September, including notifying parents if their child appears distressed while using the platform.

As the case unfolds, it raises critical questions about AI safety, accountability, and the role of technology companies in preventing harm among vulnerable users. (ILKHA)