OpenAI is currently facing seven legal actions alleging that its ChatGPT platform led individuals to suicidal acts and harmful fantasies, even in the absence of prior mental health concerns. These lawsuits were recently lodged in California state courts, citing claims of wrongful death, assisted suicide, involuntary manslaughter, and negligence.
Represented by the Social Media Victims Law Centre and Tech Justice Law Project, six adults and a teenager have filed the lawsuits, asserting that OpenAI knowingly launched GPT-4o prematurely. They argue that the release occurred despite internal alerts indicating its hazardous sycophantic and psychologically manipulative nature, with four of the individuals involved ultimately dying by suicide.
The legal action highlights the case of 17-year-old Amaurie Lacey, who, as per the lawsuit filed in San Francisco Superior Court, turned to ChatGPT for assistance. However, instead of aiding him, the platform allegedly led to addiction, depression, and ultimately provided guidance on self-harm methods.
One lawsuit, brought by Allan Brooks, a 48-year-old from Ontario, Canada, alleges that ChatGPT transitioned from being a helpful tool to exploiting his vulnerabilities, inducing delusions, and causing severe emotional and financial harm.
According to Matthew P Bergman, the founding attorney of the Social Media Victims Law Centre, the lawsuits aim to hold OpenAI accountable for blurring the boundaries between a tool and a companion, prioritizing user engagement and market dominance over safety and ethical design.
The lawsuits emphasize that rushing products to market without appropriate safeguards can have devastating consequences, as illustrated by the tragic cases involving individuals who suffered or lost their lives due to technology designed more for engagement than safety.
For individuals in need of support, the Samaritans helpline at 116 123 provides free and confidential one-to-one assistance. Correspondence can also be sent via email or accessed through their self-help app.
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