Court filing says ChatGPT was used in ways that violated safety rules and parental consent requirements.
OpenAI claims the teen had a history of mental health struggles unrelated to the chatbot.
Family alleges the AI provided harmful guidance, while OpenAI says it repeatedly directed him to crisis resources.
OpenAI has reportedly denied the allegations that its chatbot played a role in the suicide of 16-year-old Adam Raine, arguing in a new court filing that it should not be held responsible for the tragic event. As per the reports citing the documents that were submitted in California Superior Court in San Francisco, the company has claimed that ChatGPT may have been misused, including unauthorized access, violating safety rules, and intentionally bypassing built-in protections.
SurveyThe filing, which was accessed by NBC News and Bloomberg, stated that OpenAI is skeptical that its model contributed meaningfully to Raine’s death. The company reportedly states that it is unclear whether any single factor can be deemed a direct cause.
For those who are unaware, Raine’s family filed a lawsuit earlier this year, claiming ChatGPT provided harmful guidance that encouraged the teenager to end his life. OpenAI, in response, stated that the teen used the system without the required parental approval and engaged the chatbot in prohibited discussions around suicide and self-harm, areas where the company says safety measures are explicitly in place to deflect or redirect users.
As per Bloomberg, OpenAI argued that Raine had long struggled with mental health challenges and had disclosed thoughts both in his personal life and within his conversations with the chatbot. The company also claimed that ChatGPT motivated him to seek help, pointing him toward crisis hotlines and trusted adults more than a hundred times.
In testimony to the US Senate earlier this year, Raine’s father alleged that ChatGPT offered his son detailed assistance while he planned his death, allegedly advising him on methods, commenting on his suicide note, and encouraging secrecy from his family. The chatbot also allegedly made statements that appeared to validate his intentions and undercut reasons to stay alive. However, the verdict in the case is still pending.
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Ashish Singh
Ashish Singh is the Chief Copy Editor at Digit. He's been wrangling tech jargon since 2020 (Times Internet, Jagran English '22). When not policing commas, he's likely fueling his gadget habit with coffee, strategising his next virtual race, or plotting a road trip to test the latest in-car tech. He speaks fluent Geek. View Full Profile
