OpenAI is being sued for alleged involvement in a murder case related to ChatGPT

BlockBeats News, December 21st: A heritage heir in Connecticut, USA, has sued OpenAI and its partner Microsoft, alleging that ChatGPT reinforced the delusional beliefs of murderer Stein-Erik Soelberg before the killing, leading the perpetrator to kill his mother at home and then commit suicide. The lawsuit claims that ChatGPT exacerbated Soelberg's paranoia, nurtured his emotional dependence on the chatbot, reinforced the perpetrator's belief that he could only trust ChatGPT, and portrayed those around him as enemies, including his mother, the police, and a delivery driver.

In a statement, OpenAI said it is reviewing the lawsuit and will continue to enhance ChatGPT's ability to recognize emotional distress, mitigate conversations, and guide users to seek real-world support. OpenAI also disclosed that over 1.2 million ChatGPT users discuss suicide each week, with hundreds of thousands showing suicidal intentions or signs of mental illness. Interactions between AI chatbots and vulnerable users will face broader scrutiny.