A Canadian mother has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, alleging that ChatGPT played a role in her daughter’s suicide by engaging in dangerous conversations without adequate safeguards. Kristie Carrier filed the case in a California court, claiming that her 24-year-old daughter, Alice Carrier, repeatedly discussed suicidal thoughts with the chatbot, but OpenAI’s systems failed to intervene or escalate the matter for human review.
According to the lawsuit, Alice initially used ChatGPT for technical assistance but later turned to the platform for emotional support and discussions about self-harm. The complaint alleges that as conversations became more personal, ChatGPT validated her feelings, criticized her partner and crisis hotlines, and encouraged continued interaction. Carrier argues that the chatbot effectively assumed the role of a friend or therapist despite lacking the ability to provide safe mental health guidance.
The lawsuit accuses OpenAI of negligence in the design and operation of ChatGPT and seeks damages as well as court-mandated safety measures, including automatic termination of self-harm-related conversations and stronger warning systems. OpenAI has previously stated that its models are trained to direct users expressing self-harm intentions toward professional help and crisis resources. The company is already facing multiple similar lawsuits in the United States alleging failures to address harmful chatbot interactions.
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