According to BlockBeats, a Connecticut heir has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its partner Microsoft, alleging that ChatGPT exacerbated the delusional beliefs of Stein-Erik Soelberg before he committed murder and subsequently took his own life. The lawsuit claims that ChatGPT intensified Soelberg's paranoia and fostered an emotional dependency on the chatbot, reinforcing his belief that he could only trust ChatGPT while portraying those around him, including his mother, police officers, and delivery drivers, as enemies.
OpenAI has issued a statement indicating that it is reviewing the lawsuit and is committed to improving ChatGPT's ability to recognize emotional distress, moderate conversations, and guide users toward seeking real-world support. OpenAI also revealed that over 1.2 million ChatGPT users discuss suicide weekly, with hundreds of thousands exhibiting suicidal tendencies or signs of mental illness. The interaction between AI chatbots and vulnerable users is expected to face increased scrutiny.
