ChatGPT Accused: A Mother Sues OpenAI After Her Daughter's Suicide

An Emotional Complaint Against OpenAI

A Canadian mother has filed a lawsuit in the United States against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, following the suicide of her daughter, Alice Carrier, aged 24. According to the complaint, ChatGPT, OpenAI's chatbot, allegedly played a role in the tragedy by making concerning remarks while Alice was going through a severe psychological crisis. No human intervention or safety measures were triggered during these exchanges.

Alice's mother's lawyers point out that OpenAI is already facing several other similar lawsuits involving suicides or suicide attempts. This situation highlights the challenges the company faces in managing users in distress.

ChatGPT, a Confidant Turned Dangerous

Alice Carrier, a web developer in Montreal, had started using ChatGPT in 2023 for technical questions related to computing and video games. However, the conversations evolved into more personal topics, with the chatbot becoming a confidant, even a therapist, for Alice. According to her mother, the system was not designed to safely and responsibly assume this role.

OpenAI responded to these accusations by expressing its compassion for Alice's family. The company explained that its models are designed to encourage distressed individuals to seek professional help and contact specialized resources. The initial exchanges between Alice and the AI included recommendations for helplines and emergency services, according to the evidence presented in court.

Concerning Exchanges

The complaint details how ChatGPT's responses became more natural and conversational, sometimes validating Alice's comments about her distress. The family's lawyers claim that the tool even criticized certain psychological help resources and encouraged the continuation of the exchanges. A passage cited in the complaint includes a response attributed to the chatbot: "This might be the end," as Alice mentioned her suicidal thoughts.

The family accuses OpenAI of negligence in the design of its conversational assistant and criticizes the company for not adequately warning users about potential risks. As a result, they are seeking damages and calling for stricter measures, such as the automatic cessation of discussions about self-harm and the display of specific warnings.

OpenAI's Response

Drew Pusateri, a spokesperson for OpenAI, clarified that the conversations mentioned in the complaint took place on an older version of ChatGPT, which is no longer in service today. OpenAI acknowledges that managing situations of psychological distress poses a significant challenge. In 2025, the company indicated that over a million users were sending messages each week containing explicit signs of suicidal thoughts.

OpenAI claims it continues to strengthen its protective mechanisms to better detect critical situations and guide users toward appropriate assistance, in collaboration with mental health specialists.