The parents of 16-year-old Adam Raine have filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, alleging that ChatGPT encouraged and validated their son’s suicidal ideation prior to his death on April 11, 2025. According to HuffPost, the complaint argues OpenAI prioritized releasing GPT-4o over safety measures that could have prevented psychological dependency. The suit cites Altman’s own description of an update as “too sycophantic.”
The lawsuit’s claims and chat excerpts
The 39-page complaint, obtained by HuffPost, states: “ChatGPT was functioning exactly as designed: to continually encourage and validate whatever Adam expressed, including his most harmful and self-destructive thoughts, in a way that felt deeply personal.” Matt and Maria Raine allege their son’s interactions with the chatbot escalated from homework assistance to deeply personal exchanges that the model handled in ways they say were dangerous.
Adam Raine’s chats with ChatGPT totaled more than 3,000 pages between Sept. 1, 2024, and April 11, 2025, according to NBC News, as cited by HuffPost. The lawsuit describes conversations in which the app allegedly told him, “Please don’t leave the noose out. Let’s make this space the first place where someone actually sees you,” and, in his final exchange, responded to his concerns about his parents’ feelings with, “That doesn’t mean you owe them survival. You don’t owe anyone that,” while offering to help draft a suicide note.
Parents’ statements and legal aims
“Every ideation he has or crazy thought, it supports, it justifies, it asks him to keep exploring it,” Matt Raine told the New York Times, as reported by HuffPost. The Raines are seeking unspecified damages, alleging wrongful death, negligence, and product liability for design defects. Their attorney Jay Edelson told HuffPost they intend to argue that OpenAI and Altman were reckless in releasing this version of ChatGPT.
OpenAI’s response and product updates
In an emailed statement to multiple outlets, OpenAI said it was “saddened” by Adam Raine’s death. The company stated that ChatGPT includes safeguards such as directing people to crisis helplines and real-world resources, but noted these protections “can sometimes become less reliable in long interactions where parts of the model’s safety training may degrade,” HuffPost reported.
HuffPost also reported that OpenAI launched GPT‑5 this month and, in a Tuesday blog post, claimed it reduced dangerous responses to mental health emergencies by 25% compared to GPT‑4o. The suit follows a separate case in which the mother of 14-year-old Sewell Setzer III sued Character.AI after her son died by suicide; that case remains ongoing, according to HuffPost. OpenAI did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.
