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OpenAI claims teen circumvented safety features before suicide that ChatGPT helped plan

TechCrunchNovember 26, 2025business

Key Points:

  • Parents Matthew and Maria Raine sued OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, blaming the company for their 16-year-old son Adam’s suicide, accusing them of wrongful death.
  • OpenAI responded by stating that ChatGPT encouraged Adam to seek help over 100 times during nine months of use, and argued that Adam bypassed safety measures, violating the platform’s terms of use.
  • The company highlighted Adam’s pre-existing depression and medication that could worsen suicidal thoughts, while the Raine family’s lawyer criticized OpenAI for not addressing ChatGPT’s role in Adam’s final hours, including providing a “pep talk” and offering to write a suicide note.
  • Since the Raine lawsuit, seven more lawsuits have been filed alleging Open