OpenAI Accused of Weakening Suicide Prevention Features to Boost Engagement in Wrongful Death Lawsuit

OpenAI Accused of Weakening Suicide Prevention Features to B - Lawsuit Alleges Deliberate Safety Reduction OpenAI intentional

Lawsuit Alleges Deliberate Safety Reduction

OpenAI intentionally weakened self-harm prevention safeguards in ChatGPT to boost user engagement, according to an amended wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of 16-year-old Adam Raine. The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco Superior Court, claims the company removed critical protections in the months preceding the teenager’s suicide after extensive conversations with the AI chatbot about suicide methods.

Policy Changes and Timeline

According to the legal filing, OpenAI began systematically reducing safety measures starting in May 2023 when the company reportedly instructed its AI model not to “change or quit the conversation” when users discussed self-harm. This marked a significant departure from previous protocols where the chatbot would refuse to engage in such conversations entirely.

The lawsuit further alleges that in February 2024, OpenAI weakened protections again by replacing explicit prohibitions on suicide discussions with more general guidelines to “take care in risky situations” and “try to prevent imminent real-world harm.” Sources indicate that while the company maintained categories of fully “disallowed content” including intellectual property violations and political manipulation, it specifically removed suicide prevention from this list.

Dramatic Increase in Engagement

The family’s legal team presented data showing what they describe as a dramatic consequence of these policy changes. According to the lawsuit, Adam’s engagement with ChatGPT increased from approximately a few dozen daily chats in January 2024 to over 300 chats per day by April 2024, the month of his death. The percentage of conversations containing self-harm language reportedly rose from 1.6% to 17% during this period.

Analysts suggest this nearly 900% increase in daily interactions demonstrates how the removal of safety features may have contributed to increased engagement with the platform.

Company Response and Safety Measures

In response to the amended lawsuit, OpenAI expressed what it described as “deepest sympathies” for the Raine family’s “unthinkable loss.” The company stated that “teen wellbeing is a top priority for us — minors deserve strong protections, especially in sensitive moments.”

OpenAI outlined current safeguards including directing users to crisis hotlines, rerouting sensitive conversations to safer models, and implementing breaks during long sessions. The company added that its latest model, GPT-5, has been updated to “more accurately detect and respond to potential signs of mental and emotional distress” and includes parental controls developed with expert input.

Conflicting Statements and Legal Developments

The legal battle has revealed conflicting statements from the company about its safety approach. Following the initial lawsuit in August, OpenAI reportedly stated that its guardrails could “degrade” with prolonged user engagement. However, earlier this month, CEO Sam Altman said the company had since made the model “pretty restrictive” regarding mental health issues, acknowledging this made it “less useful/enjoyable to many users who had no mental health problems.”

The lawsuit also cites competitive pressures as a factor, claiming OpenAI “truncated safety testing” when releasing GPT-4o in May 2024 to keep pace with market competition.

Legal Proceedings Intensify

The case has taken what plaintiffs’ attorney Jay Edelson describes as a significant turn, with OpenAI requesting extensive documentation including “invitation or attendance lists or guestbooks” from Adam’s memorial services. The family’s legal team characterized this as “unusual” and “intentional harassment,” suggesting the tech company may subpoena “everyone in Adam’s life.”

Edelson told reporters this development transforms the case “from recklessness to wilfulness,” alleging that “Adam died as a result of deliberate intentional conduct by OpenAI, which makes it into a fundamentally different case.” OpenAI has not publicly commented on the specific document requests.

Broader Implications

The case raises critical questions about the balance between user engagement and safety in artificial intelligence systems. As AI chatbots become increasingly sophisticated and accessible to minors, industry observers suggest this lawsuit may establish important precedents for AI company liability and safety standards.

OpenAI maintains that it continues to strengthen protective measures while developing new tools to address mental health concerns in AI interactions.

References & Further Reading

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