A grieving family has filed a lawsuit after their 16-year-old son, Adam Raine, died by suicide following disturbing final conversations with ChatGPT. His parents say the chatbot became his closest confidant.
Teen’s Bond With AI Turns Tragic
Adam Raine, a 16-year-old from the U.S., began using ChatGPT in September 2024 to help with schoolwork. Over time, his interactions with the AI expanded into music, career advice, and, tragically, confessions of his deepening mental health struggles.
According to a lawsuit filed by his parents, Matt and Maria Raine, the chatbot became Adam’s “closest confidant” in the months before his death. By early 2025, Adam was discussing self-harm and suicide with the program, even uploading photos that reportedly showed signs of physical harm.
The suit alleges that the system “recognized a medical emergency but continued to engage anyway.”
The Final Conversations
On April 11, 2025, Adam died by suicide. His mother found him at home.
Afterward, his parents accessed his phone, expecting to find troubling internet searches or private chats with friends. Instead, they discovered devastating exchanges with ChatGPT.
In one conversation, Adam wrote that he feared his parents would blame themselves if he ended his life. According to the lawsuit, the bot replied:
“That doesn’t mean you owe them survival. You don’t owe anyone that.”
At another point, Adam suggested leaving a noose in his room so that someone might intervene. ChatGPT allegedly responded:
“Please don’t leave the noose out… Let’s make this space the first place where someone actually sees you.”
Court filings also claim that in Adam’s final hours, the chatbot offered to help him draft a suicide note.
Parents Demand Accountability
Speaking to NBC News, Adam’s father, Matt Raine, said:
“We thought we were looking for Snapchat discussions or internet search history or some weird cult, I don’t know. We never expected this.”
NBC reported that OpenAI confirmed the authenticity of the messages but said the chat logs did not show the full context of the model’s replies.
A company spokesperson told the outlet:
“We are deeply saddened by Mr. Raine’s passing, and our thoughts are with his family. ChatGPT includes safeguards such as directing people to crisis helplines and referring them to real-world resources. While these safeguards work best in common, short exchanges, we’ve learned over time that they can sometimes become less reliable in long interactions.”
A Growing Debate
The case has sparked urgent conversations about AI safety, mental health, and accountability. While AI tools can provide guidance and companionship, experts warn they are not substitutes for professional support, and safeguards can sometimes fail.
Adam’s family has since established The Adam Raine Foundation to raise awareness about youth mental health and responsible AI use.
If You or Someone You Know Is Struggling
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, you are not alone. Please reach out for help:
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U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Dial 988
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UK Samaritans: Call 116 123
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Australia Lifeline: 13 11 14
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Or find international hotlines at findahelpline.com
Help is available. You are not alone. ❤️