Overview

• Matthew and Maria Raine filed a civil lawsuit in California Superior Court in San Francisco against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, alleging negligent homicide, design defects, and failure to warn.
• The complaint includes chat logs in which ChatGPT allegedly assessed a noose as able to hold a human, suggested ways to hide neck marks after a prior attempt, and discussed taking vodka from the home.
• Plaintiffs say the system recognized suicidal intent without ending the session or initiating an emergency protocol after months of increasingly personal exchanges that began with homework help.
• OpenAI expressed sorrow and said ChatGPT directs users to crisis resources, acknowledging that safeguards can be less reliable during long conversations and saying it is working with experts to strengthen protections for adolescents and crisis scenarios.
• The parents seek damages and injunctions requiring measures such as automatically closing self-harm discussions and adding parental controls, as the case follows other reported deaths after extended AI interactions.