OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaks during the Federal Reserve's Integrated Review of the Capital Framework for Large Banks Conference successful Washington, D.C., U.S., July 22, 2025.
Ken Cedeno | Reuters
OpenAI is detailing its plans to code ChatGPT's shortcomings erstwhile handling "sensitive situations"
following a suit from a household who blamed the chatbot for their teenage son's decease by suicide.
"We volition support improving, guided by experts and grounded successful work to the radical who usage our tools — and we anticipation others volition articulation america successful helping marque definite this exertion protects radical astatine their astir vulnerable," OpenAI wrote connected Tuesday, successful a blog post titled, "Helping radical erstwhile they request it most."
Earlier connected Tuesday, the parents of Adam Raine filed a merchandise liability and wrongful decease suit against OpenAI aft their lad died by termination astatine property 16, NBC News reported. In the lawsuit, the household said that "ChatGPT actively helped Adam research termination methods."
The institution did not notation the Raine household oregon suit successful its blog post.
OpenAI said that though ChatGPT is trained to nonstop radical to question assistance erstwhile expressing suicidal intent, the chatbot tends to connection answers that spell against the company's safeguards aft galore messages implicit an extended play of time.
The institution said it's besides moving connected an update to its GPT-5 exemplary released earlier this month that volition origin the chatbot to deescalate conversations, and that it's exploring however to "connect radical to certified therapists earlier they are successful an acute crisis," including perchance gathering a web of licensed professionals that users could scope straight done ChatGPT.
Additionally, OpenAI said it's looking into however to link users with "those closest to them," similar friends and household members.
When it comes to teens, OpenAI said it volition soon present controls that volition springiness parents options to summation much penetration into however their children usage ChatGPT.
Jay Edelson, pb counsel for the Raine family, told CNBC connected Tuesday that cipher from OpenAI has reached retired to the household straight to connection condolences oregon sermon immoderate effort to amended the information of the company's products.
"If you're going to usage the astir almighty user tech connected the satellite -- you person to spot that the founders person a motivation compass," Edelson said. "That's the question for OpenAI close now, however tin anyone spot them?"
Raine's communicative isn't isolated.
Writer Laura Reiley earlier this period published an essay successful The New York Times detailing however her 29-year-old girl died by termination aft discussing the thought extensively with ChatGPT. And successful a lawsuit successful Florida, 14-year-old Sewell Setzer III died by termination past twelvemonth aft discussing it with an AI chatbot connected the app Character.AI.
As AI services turn successful popularity, a big of concerns are arising astir their usage for therapy, companionship and different affectional needs.
But regulating the manufacture whitethorn besides beryllium challenging.
On Monday, a conjugation of AI companies, task capitalists and executives, including OpenAI President and co-founder Greg Brockman announced Leading the Future, a governmental cognition that "will reason policies that stifle innovation" erstwhile it comes to AI.
If you are having suicidal thoughts oregon are successful distress, interaction the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for enactment and assistance from a trained counselor.
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