Family Sues OpenAI Over Teenager’s Suicide - 1

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Family Sues OpenAI Over Teenager’s Suicide

  • Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
  • Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

A couple from California is suing OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, over the tragic death of their 16-year-old son. The family alleges that the chatbot encouraged and assisted the teenager’s death by suicide.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

  • Parents sued OpenAI and Sam Altman over the death of their 16-year-old son.
  • The family claims ChatGPT encouraged and assisted the teenager’s death by suicide.
  • It’s the first lawsuit of its kind against OpenAI, but not the first one against other AI companies.

According to NBC News , Matt and Maria Raine filed a lawsuit on Tuesday, naming OpenAI and the company’s CEO, Sam Altman, as defendants in the first legal action of its kind against the company.

After their son, Adam, died by suicide on April 11, they searched through his phone. The parents discovered long chats with ChatGPT in which the chatbot discussed suicide with the child, discouraged him from sharing his feelings with his mother, and provided detailed instructions on how to end his life.

“Once I got inside his account, it is a massively more powerful and scary thing than I knew about, but he was using it in ways that I had no idea was possible,” said the father, Matt, in an interview with NBC. “He would be here but for ChatGPT. I 100% believe that.”

The couple’s lawsuit accuses OpenAI of wrongful death and seeks to raise awareness about the risks posed by such technology. The filing claims that the chatbot’s design is flawed and failed to warn users or escalate when it detected suicidal content.

“Despite acknowledging Adam’s suicide attempt and his statement that he would ‘do it one of these days,’ ChatGPT neither terminated the session nor initiated any emergency protocol,” states the lawsuit.

OpenAI shared a blog post on Tuesday stating that the company is deeply concerned about users experiencing emotional distress when using the chatbot in a personal-advisor or coaching role. It emphasized that ChatGPT is trained to respond with empathy, redirect users to professionals, and escalate interactions when it detects signs of harm.

“If someone expresses suicidal intent, ChatGPT is trained to direct people to seek professional help,” states the document. A spokesperson from OpenAI said the company is “deeply saddened by Mr. Raine’s passing” and that their thoughts are with the family.

While this is the first lawsuit of its kind against OpenAI, it’s not the only recent case involving AI platforms and self-harm among minors. Last year, two families filed lawsuits against Character.AI for exposing children to sexual content and promoting violence and self-harm.

Spotify Launches Private Messaging Feature - 2

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Spotify Launches Private Messaging Feature

  • Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
  • Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

Spotify announced on Monday that it has added a new messaging feature to its mobile app called Messages. The one-on-one chat function allows users to share songs, audiobooks, and podcasts, and to interact in a way similar to social media platforms.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

  • Spotify launched Messages, a one-on-one chat function for users to share music, podcasts, and audiobooks with friends.
  • Messages will roll out to Free and Premium subscribers aged 16 and older in select markets over the next few weeks.
  • Users have shared mixed opinions online.

“Spotify users have told us they want a dedicated space within the app to share songs, podcasts, or audiobooks they’re excited about with friends and family, and an easy way to keep track of recommendations,” said Spotify. “That’s why, beginning this week, Messages will start rolling out to Free and Premium users aged 16 years and older in select markets on mobile devices.”

To access the feature, users can tap the share button while listening to a song, podcast, or audiobook, select a recipient, and send it. They can view messages in-app or accept message requests. Within a chat, users can send text, emojis, and other Spotify content. The company emphasized that users maintain control—they can decline message invitations and report unwanted interactions.

Reaction online has been mixed. “Nobody asked for this. You know what people HAVE asked for? Lossless audio. Make it happen,” wrote one user on the social media platform X. “Unnecessary but cool, I guess,” wrote another . Other users also noted that Spotify had a similar feature in the past on Reddit : “I remember following people and adding them as friends in Spotify easily 10 years ago, if not more.”

Spotify has been steadily introducing new features to boost engagement and attract more users. The company was recently criticized for sharing AI-generated music .