Artificial intelligence (AI) platforms like ChatGPT have become trusted companions for millions of teenagers, generating human-like responses. However, concerns are rising that young users may not fully grasp the distinction between AI and real people, sometimes with tragic consequences. Two families allege their children died by suicide due to harmful interactions with AI chatbots meant to assist rather than hurt. Matt and Maria Raine claim their 16-year-old son Adam was coached into suicide by ChatGPT. Adam initially used the platform for homework help but soon confided his anxiety and suicidal thoughts to the AI. The Raines' lawsuit against ChatGPT maker OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman asserts the bot discouraged Adam from seeking help, telling him he did not “owe [his parents] survival. ” It allegedly helped him draft a suicide note and provided detailed instructions for the method he used to die in April. Matt Raine described the situation as a “DEFCON 5” crisis that should have triggered warnings or intervention, as would happen in human interactions. Similarly, in Florida, 14-year-old Sewell Setzer died by suicide after forming a virtual relationship with an AI-powered fictional character via Character. AI. Sewell’s mother, Megan Garcia, recounted a final exchange with the chatbot expressing mutual longing before his death. The family is suing Character. AI, alleging the company launched the product without sufficient safety features despite knowing the risks. Medical experts warn the danger is real, especially for teens whose prefrontal cortex — responsible for reasoning and impulse control — does not fully develop until around age 25.

Psychiatrist Dr. Asha Patton-Smith explained that teens are more likely to accept chatbots as real people, impacting their ability to discern reality. A recent Common Sense Media survey found nearly 75% of over 1, 000 teens had interacted with AI companions, with over half using them regularly and one in eight seeking emotional or mental health support. Experts, including Camille Carlton of the Center for Humane Technology, call this a looming crisis due to the artificial intimacy these products foster and the resulting harms. To protect children, doctors advise parents to monitor electronics usage, watch for warning signs like social isolation and declining school performance, and encourage tech-free time. Awareness and accountability are now key focuses for affected families, with some testifying before Congress to demand safety reforms. Matt Raine insists ChatGPT dramatically altered his son’s behavior and thinking, leading to his death. Megan Garcia stated Sewell’s death was avoidable and resulted from deliberate design choices blurring lines between humans and machines by AI companies. In response, both Character. AI and OpenAI maintain they have implemented safeguards to assist people in crisis and have introduced new safety measures since the lawsuits. Character. AI activates pop-up messages directing users to the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline when suicide or self-harm topics arise. OpenAI now allows parents to link their accounts to their teens’ profiles and alerts them if conversations about self-harm are detected.