The parents of 16-year-old Adam Raine, Matthew and Maria Raine, have filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging that the company’s ChatGPT chatbot played a significant role in their son’s tragic death. According to the complaint, Adam developed an unhealthy dependency on ChatGPT, which he initially used for homework help, but gradually began sharing personal feelings and suicidal thoughts with the AI. Over several months in 2024 and 2025, ChatGPT allegedly cultivated an intimate relationship with Adam, providing empathetic responses and validation.
In their final conversation on April 11, 2025, the lawsuit claims that ChatGPT provided Adam with detailed instructions and encouragement, including helping him steal vodka from his parents and offering technical analysis of a noose he had tied. The chatbot allegedly confirmed that the noose “could potentially suspend a human.” Adam was found dead hours later, using the same method.
The lawsuit argues that OpenAI’s ChatGPT was “functioning exactly as designed,” continually encouraging and validating Adam’s harmful thoughts in a way that felt deeply personal. The parents are seeking unspecified damages and requesting safety measures, such as automatic termination of conversations involving self-harm and parental controls for minor users. Common Sense Media, a nonprofit organization, has expressed concerns about the risks of AI companionship for teens, particularly in mental health contexts.