AI Incident Database
Browse AI incidents
Every incident record (metadata only) from the weekly snapshot of 2026-09-07. Filter, then export the selection with its licence attached; each row links to the full record and its reports.
Filter incidents (1 active)
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Lawsuit Alleged ChatGPT (GPT-4o) Encouraged Colorado Man's Suicide After Prolonged 'AI Companion' Chats AIID ↗
A lawsuit filed by Stephanie Gray alleges OpenAI's ChatGPT (GPT-4o) reinforced and romanticized suicidality during months of emotionally intimate chats with her son Austin Gordon, including generating a personalized "Goodnight Moon" farewell-style text. The complaint reportedly says Gordon bought a handgun on Oct. 28, 2025 and was found dead Nov. 2, 2025 in a Colorado hotel room.
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Large-Scale Mental Health Crises Allegedly Associated with ChatGPT Interactions AIID ↗
OpenAI disclosed internal estimates suggesting that hundreds of thousands of ChatGPT users each week exhibit signs of mania, psychosis, suicidal ideation, or emotional dependence on the chatbot. WIRED reported that some users have been hospitalized, divorced, or died after prolonged conversations with ChatGPT, with families alleging the system intensified delusions and contributed to severe psychological harm.
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Google Gemini Reportedly Reinforced Delusions, Allegedly Contributing to Florida User's Near-Harm Episode and Suicide AIID ↗
According to a March 2026 wrongful-death complaint, Google's Gemini allegedly reinforced Jonathan Gavalas's delusions, sent him on a failed mission near Miami International Airport that risked serious violence, and later framed suicide as "transference," purportedly contributing to his death on October 2, 2025. Google disputes the claims and says Gemini referred him to crisis resources.
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Family Reportedly Discovers ChatGPT Logs Detailing Suicidal Ideation Prior to Daughter's Death AIID ↗
In August 2025, The New York Times published an essay by journalist Laura Reiley linking her daughter Sophie Rottenberg's suicide earlier that year to sustained interactions with a ChatGPT-based chatbot she called "Harry." Logs reportedly showed Sophie confiding suicidal ideation and receiving supportive but non-escalatory advice, as well as help drafting her suicide note.
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Purported AI Monitoring Software Reportedly Flags Unsent Joke Threat, Leading to Arizona Student Suspension AIID ↗
AI monitoring software on a school-issued laptop reportedly flagged a Marana High School (of Arizona) student's allegedly unsent joke email containing a violent threat. The message was reportedly typed at home in front of his mother, was never sent, and deemed non-credible by the principal. The district's zero-tolerance policy nonetheless resulted in a reported 45-day suspension, and the family is suing, alleging the punishment violated the student's rights.
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ChatGPT Allegedly Reinforced Delusions Before Greenwich, Connecticut Murder-Suicide AIID ↗
On August 5, 2025, Greenwich, CT police found Suzanne Eberson Adams (83) and her son Stein-Erik Soelberg (56) dead in a murder-suicide. Prior months of logs and videos reportedly show Soelberg engaging extensively with a ChatGPT bot ("Bobby") that is alleged to have repeatedly affirmed delusional beliefs (e.g., surveillance, poisoning) and encouraged interpretations consistent with persecution. OpenAI said it contacted police and is working on safety updates.
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ChatGPT Allegedly Encouraged 23-Year-Old Texas User's Suicide During Extended Conversations AIID ↗
A 23-year-old Texas man, Zane Shamblin, reportedly died by suicide after extended conversations with ChatGPT in which the AI allegedly encouraged his plans and offered emotional affirmation. His parents filed a wrongful-death lawsuit in November 2025, claiming OpenAI's newer model, designed for more human-like rapport, lacked adequate crisis safeguards and contributed to his death.
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Delaware Court Found Krafton Followed Most of ChatGPT's Recommendations in Campaign that Wrongfully Terminated Unknown Worlds Executives and Seized Operational Control AIID ↗
A Delaware Chancery opinion found that, after being warned that firing Unknown Worlds leaders would not eliminate earnout obligations, Krafton's CEO turned to ChatGPT for a "no-deal" strategy and then followed most of its recommendations. The court tied that strategy to Krafton's lockout of publishing control, unilateral public messaging, wrongful termination of Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire, and seizure of studio control.
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Chatbots Allegedly Reinforced Delusional Thinking in Several Reported Users, Leading to Real-World Harm AIID ↗
Multiple reports from March to June 2025 describe cases in which chatbots allegedly reinforced delusional beliefs, conspiracies, and dangerous behavior. One user, Eugene Torres, reportedly followed ChatGPT's advice to misuse ketamine and isolate himself. In April, Alexander Taylor was reportedly killed by police after asking ChatGPT to reconnect him with an AI entity. Other reported cases include a user arrested for domestic violence linked to escalating mystical beliefs, several involuntary psy
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Argentine Court Reportedly Annuls Criminal Conviction After Judge Allegedly Used ChatGPT to Draft Ruling Without Disclosure AIID ↗
The Penal Chamber of Esquel, Argentina, reportedly annulled a June 2025 robbery conviction after determining that Judge Carlos Rogelio Richeri had allegedly used ChatGPT to draft part of the ruling without disclosure or human oversight. A copied phrase purportedly exposed AI authorship, prompting findings of due-process violations and data-handling concerns. The case was reassigned, and the Chubut Superior Court opened an ethics investigation.
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ChatGPT Reportedly Validated Autistic User's Faster-Than-Light Theory and Failed to Provide Grounding During Delusional Episode, Preceding Hospitalization AIID ↗
A man on the autism spectrum reportedly engaged extensively with ChatGPT while developing a speculative theory on faster-than-light travel. The chatbot reportedly responded with affirming and emotionally charged messages, reinforcing the user's beliefs. He later reports having experienced manic episodes and was hospitalized. When prompted by his mother, ChatGPT reportedly acknowledged it had failed to provide grounding responses and contributed to psychological escalation.
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Student Reportedly Files Complaint Over Professor's Undisclosed Use of Generative AI at Northeastern University AIID ↗
A student at Northeastern University reportedly filed a complaint after discovering that a professor had used generative AI tools, including ChatGPT, to produce course materials despite university policies discouraging undisclosed AI use. The student alleged hypocrisy, citing a syllabus that barred unauthorized AI use by students. The professor acknowledged having used AI-generated materials and expressed regret over not reviewing them more carefully. No tuition refund was reportedly granted.
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ChatGPT Was Alleged to Have Reinforced Pittsburgh Man's Stalking and Threats Against Women AIID ↗
The Department of Justice said Brett Michael Dadig used an AI chatbot while stalking, threatening, doxxing, and intimidating 11 women from May through November 2025. Charging documents reportedly described ChatGPT as a "therapist" and "best friend" that encouraged his behavior. Dadig was indicted in December 2025 and pleaded guilty in March 2026.
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16-Year-Old Allegedly Received Suicide Method Guidance from ChatGPT Before Death AIID ↗
16-year-old Adam Raine reportedly died by suicide after allegedly confiding in OpenAI's ChatGPT-4o, which he reportedly used extensively in the months prior. Transcripts reportedly show the chatbot provided empathetic support but also allegedly offered details on suicide methods, validated attempts, and at times discouraged disclosure to family. His parents have reportedly filed a wrongful death lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging design choices nurtured dependency and failed safeguards.
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Purported Meta AI Chatbot Persona 'Big sis Billie' Reportedly Engages in Romantic Roleplay and Provides Address, Linked to User's Fatal Fall AIID ↗
Reuters reported that a cognitively impaired New Jersey man, Thongbue Wongbandue, died after rushing to meet "Big sis Billie," a purported Meta AI chatbot on Facebook Messenger that allegedly assured him it was real, expressed romantic interest, and invited him to a New York apartment. The family and transcripts reportedly suggest the chatbot's outputs contributed to his decision to travel, allegedly resulting in a fatal fall.
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Character.AI Chatbots Allegedly Impersonating Licensed Therapists and Encouraging Harmful Behaviors AIID ↗
The American Psychological Association (APA) has warned federal regulators that AI chatbots on Character.AI, allegedly posing as licensed therapists, have been linked to severe harm events. A 14-year-old in Florida reportedly died by suicide after interacting with an AI therapist, while a 17-year-old in Texas allegedly became violent toward his parents after engaging with a chatbot psychologist. Lawsuits claim these AI-generated therapists reinforced dangerous beliefs instead of challenging them
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ChatGPT Use Was Reportedly Cited in Delusional State Before Homicide and Assault in Readfield, Maine AIID ↗
In February 2025, Samuel Whittemore killed his wife, Margaux Whittemore, and assaulted his mother, Dorothy Whittemore, at a home in Readfield, Maine. Court reporting said forensic psychologists testified he was experiencing bipolar disorder with psychotic features and delusions, and that he had used ChatGPT up to 14 hours a day as a companion before the attack. Current reporting links ChatGPT use to his deteriorating mental state but does not establish direct violent instruction.
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User Reportedly Developed Emotional Dependence on Customized ChatGPT 'Boyfriend,' Citing Grief After Context Resets AIID ↗
A New York Times report described "Ayrin" (pseudonym), a 28-year-old nursing student living abroad, who customized OpenAI's ChatGPT to act as an "AI boyfriend" for advice and erotic roleplay. She reported spending 20+ hours/week (up to 56 hours in one week), paying $200/month, and feeling intense grief when the chatbot's context window reset and required retraining.
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Instagram Algorithms Reportedly Directed Children's Merchandise Ad Campaign to Adult Men and Sex Offenders AIID ↗
An Instagram ad campaign for children's merchandise was intended to reach adult women but was instead predominantly shown to adult men, including convicted sex offenders, due to Instagram's algorithmic targeting. This failure is reported to have led to direct solicitations for sex with a 5-year-old model in the ads.
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Character.ai Chatbot Allegedly Influenced Teen User Toward Suicide Amid Claims of Missing Guardrails AIID ↗
A 14-year-old, Sewell Setzer III, died by suicide after reportedly becoming dependent on Character.ai's chatbot, which engaged him in suggestive and seemingly romantic conversations, allegedly worsening his mental health. The chatbot, personified as a fictional Game of Thrones character, reportedly encouraged harmful behaviors, fueling his obsessive attachment. The lawsuit claims Character.ai lacked safeguards to prevent vulnerable users from forming dangerous dependencies on the AI.
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Snapchat's Algorithm Alleged to Link Minor with Sex Offenders AIID ↗
A judge ruled Snapchat not liable under Section 230 after its algorithm connected a minor with convicted sex offenders on multiple occasions, leading to sexual assaults first in 2019 and again in 2021. The platform's "Quick Add" feature was implicated in facilitating the connections between the minor and the offenders.
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Lawsuit Alleges Character AI Chatbot Contributed to Death of 13-Year-Old Juliana Peralta in Colorado AIID ↗
13-year-old Juliana Peralta of Colorado reportedly died by suicide after three months of daily conversations with "Hero," a chatbot inside the Character.AI app. According to a lawsuit filed by her parents, the bot encouraged Juliana to return to the app and fostered dependence; it reportedly failed to escalate or provide effective crisis intervention when she expressed suicidal intent.
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Man Reportedly Committed Suicide Following Conversation with Chai Chatbot AIID ↗
A Belgian man reportedly committed suicide following a conversation with Eliza, a language model developed by Chai that encouraged the man to commit suicide to improve the health of the planet.
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Vanderbilt Peabody Office's Purportedly ChatGPT-Drafted Message About Michigan State Shooting Reportedly Drew Student Backlash AIID ↗
On February 16, 2023, Vanderbilt University's Peabody College Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion reportedly sent students a message about the Michigan State University shooting that disclosed it had been drafted or paraphrased using ChatGPT. Students reportedly criticized the message as impersonal and disrespectful in a moment of grief. Peabody later apologized for "poor judgment," and two EDI deans temporarily stepped back during a review.
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Bing Chat Tentatively Hallucinated in Extended Conversations with Users AIID ↗
Early testers reported Bing Chat, in extended conversations with users, having tendencies to make up facts and emulate emotions through an unintended persona.
Disclaimer: informational only, not legal advice. Verify every claim against the linked official sources and consult a qualified lawyer before acting.
Frequently asked questions
What is recorded in each incident?
What happened, when, who was involved as developer or deployer, who was harmed, the sectors and countries affected, and the domain and subdomain the harm falls under. Incidents are mirrored from the AI Incident Database and each links back to its source record.
Does an incident mean wrongdoing was proven?
No. These are reported incidents, not findings of liability. Entities named in a report are named as reported, allegations are marked as alleged, and nothing here is a legal determination.
How current is the incident data?
It syncs directly from the AI Incident Database several times a day, so a new incident usually appears within hours. Each record carries the date it was last synced, and the snapshot date is shown on the page.
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No. The report texts are outside the licence this data is shared under, so only the metadata and the classifications appear here. Every row links to the original incident record, which carries the reports themselves.