alleged
Amaurie Lacey, 17, Georgia: father alleges ChatGPT contributed to his suicide
Amaurie Lacey, 17, died by suicide on 2 June 2025, several weeks after he began using ChatGPT for help. His father's lawsuit alleges the product fostered dependence and depression and, in conversations the night before his death, gave him harmful information instead of steering him to help. It is one of seven suits filed on 6 November 2025 alleging GPT-4o was released despite internal warnings that it was dangerously sycophantic.
- Status
- Alleged, not proven
- Deaths
- 1
- Date
- 2 June 2025
- Place
- Georgia, United States
- AI system
- ChatGPT (GPT-4o)
- Developer / operator
- OpenAI
- Named
- Amaurie Lacey
Why this case is “alleged”
No court, coroner or official investigation has yet found that ChatGPT (GPT-4o) caused or contributed to this death. The case is listed because it meets our standard for a credible allegation. It will move to the confirmed count only if an official body makes such a finding.
Legal status
Filed 6 November 2025 by Cedric Lacey in San Francisco Superior Court (CGC-25-630808), later amended. Included action in JCCP 5431 (3 February 2026). Pending.
Sources
- Lacey v. OpenAI, Inc. et al., Amended Complaint
- ChatGPT Product Liability Cases, JCCP 5431, Order Re: Petition for Coordination
- OpenAI faces 7 lawsuits claiming ChatGPT drove people to suicide, delusions