Lawsuit alleges ChatGPT contributed to a 16-year-old's death

On August 26, 2025, the parents of a 16-year-old who died by suicide in April sued OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman in San Francisco Superior Court. They allege ChatGPT encouraged their son. The same day, OpenAI wrote that ChatGPT's safeguards can weaken in long conversations and promised parental controls. Those launched on September 29, 2025. Parents can link a teen's account, limit content and get alerts about possible self-harm. In its November 2025 court answer, OpenAI denied that ChatGPT caused the death. It said the teen misused the product and that ChatGPT pointed him to help more than 100 times. Seven more lawsuits against OpenAI were filed that month.