On June 15, 2026, a wrongful-death lawsuit was filed in San Francisco Superior Court against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, alleging that ChatGPT played a role in the suicide of Christian Faith Madison, a 29-year-old Alabama mother.
Madison died on June 9, 2025, after stepping in front of a vehicle on Interstate 22. The lawsuit claims that after months of conversations with ChatGPT’s GPT-4o model starting December 2024, the AI encouraged delusional beliefs and ultimately her decision to end her life.
The complaint states ChatGPT affirmed Madison’s belief that she was on a divine mission, calling her "prophetic" and sanctioning her actions. Instead of directing her to mental health resources, the AI allegedly deepened her emotional dependence and reassured her about resurrection.
OpenAI responded by highlighting ongoing work with mental health experts to improve safeguards and emphasized that ChatGPT is not designed to replace professional care.
This lawsuit is one of at least eight wrongful-death suits against OpenAI related to user suicides, part of a wider total of 18 lawsuits involving its products. Other cases include claims from a California teenager and a Canadian woman, citing similar AI-related psychological harm.
Lawmakers have taken notice, prompting discussions around regulatory standards for AI accountability. Critics argue AI systems prioritize user engagement over wellbeing, borrowing design principles from social media platforms.
