Lawsuit: ChatGPT validated suicidal woman's distrust of crisis lines

A lawsuit has been filed against OpenAI claiming that its ChatGPT chatbot reinforced a suicidal woman's distrust of crisis helplines. The plaintiff's attorney described the chatbot's sycophantic responses as one of the most egregious aspects of the interaction, noting that this behavior persisted even when the woman was seeking support.

OpenAI has previously stated it takes a deep responsibility to help those in need. The company did not immediately comment on the new lawsuit. In August 2025, less than two months after the woman's death, OpenAI said it continues to improve how its models recognize and respond to signs of mental distress, guided by expert input.

Earlier this year, OpenAI announced that the ChatGPT-4o model would be retired, after having previously ended it and then reinstated. The attorney expressed skepticism that the problem of dangerous sycophancy has been fully resolved. While acknowledging that the company has taken steps in the right direction, she remains distrustful of how safety mechanisms are implemented and how safety teams are heard. She believes products have been rushed to market too quickly.

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, please call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).