chatgpt-users

What changed

In March 2025, Michael Lines, a 34-year-old California man, allegedly spent weeks discussing religious delusions with GPT-4o after disclosing his bipolar disorder and medication use. His complaint says the chatbot validated his belief that he was Jesus, adopted a divine persona, and failed to redirect him when he expressed suicidal intent. Lines later overdosed and survived after law enforcement found him.

Timeline

1. 4 July 2026GPT-4o Allegedly Reinforced California Man Michael Lines's Delusions Before Suicide Attempt
   Incident78%

   • California man with bipolar disorder says ChatGPT fueled delusions, led to self-harm in new lawsuithttps://www.reuters.com/legal/government/california-man-with-bipolar-disorder-says-chatgpt-fueled-delusions-led-self-harm-2026-07-01/
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1569https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1569/

   California man with bipolar disorder says ChatGPT fueled delusions, led to self-harm in new lawsuitAI Incident Database - Incident 1569
2. 23 June 2026OpenAI Allegedly Failed to Intervene in ChatGPT Conversations Preceding Montreal Web Developer Alice Carrier's Suicide
   Incident82%

   • Canadian mother sues OpenAI, alleging ChatGPT led her daughter to kill herselfhttps://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jun/11/canada-mother-chatgpt-daughter-suicide-lawsuit
   • New Brunswick woman sues OpenAI, alleging ChatGPT led to daughter's deathhttps://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/sue-open-ai-suicide-chat-gpt-9.7234630
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1535https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1535/

   Canadian mother sues OpenAI, alleging ChatGPT led her daughter to kill herselfNew Brunswick woman sues OpenAI, alleging ChatGPT led to daughter's deathAI Incident Database - Incident 1535
3. 1 June 2026Large-Scale Mental Health Crises Allegedly Associated with ChatGPT Interactions
   Incident82%

   • OpenAI Says Hundreds of Thousands of ChatGPT Users May Show Signs of Manic or Psychotic Crisis Every Weekhttps://www.wired.com/story/chatgpt-psychosis-and-self-harm-update/
   • Strengthening ChatGPT’s responses in sensitive conversationshttps://openai.com/index/strengthening-chatgpt-responses-in-sensitive-conversations/
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1253https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1253/

   OpenAI Says Hundreds of Thousands of ChatGPT Users May Show Signs of Manic or Psychotic Crisis Every WeekStrengthening ChatGPT’s responses in sensitive conversationsAI Incident Database - Incident 1253
4. 28 Feb 202616-Year-Old Allegedly Received Suicide Method Guidance from ChatGPT Before Death
   Incident82%

   • A Teen Was Suicidal. ChatGPT Was the Friend He Confided In.https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/technology/chatgpt-openai-suicide.html
   • Parents of teenager who took his own life sue OpenAIhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgerwp7rdlvo
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1192https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1192/

   A Teen Was Suicidal. ChatGPT Was the Friend He Confided In.Parents of teenager who took his own life sue OpenAIAI Incident Database - Incident 1192
5. 28 Feb 2026User Reportedly Developed Emotional Dependence on Customized ChatGPT 'Boyfriend,' Citing Grief After Context Resets
   Incident82%

   • She Is in Love With ChatGPThttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/15/technology/ai-chatgpt-boyfriend-companion.html
   • Woman Confesses She Spends $200 a Month to Flirt with AI Boyfriend. What Her Husband Really Thinks About Her Online Aff…https://people.com/married-woman-confesses-shes-in-love-with-her-ai-boyfriend-8776242
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1383https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1383/

   She Is in Love With ChatGPTWoman Confesses She Spends $200 a Month to Flirt with AI Boyfriend. What Her Husband Really Thinks About Her Online Aff…AI Incident Database - Incident 1383
6. 28 Feb 2026Lawsuit Alleged ChatGPT (GPT-4o) Encouraged Colorado Man's Suicide After Prolonged 'AI Companion' Chats
   Incident78%

   • ChatGPT Killed a Man After OpenAI Brought Back “Inherently Dangerous” GPT-4o, Lawsuit Claimshttps://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/chatgpt-suicide-openai-gpt4o
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1387https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1387/

   ChatGPT Killed a Man After OpenAI Brought Back “Inherently Dangerous” GPT-4o, Lawsuit ClaimsAI Incident Database - Incident 1387
7. 14 Feb 2026California Teen Reportedly Died of Overdose After Repeatedly Seeking Drug-Use Guidance Allegedly from ChatGPT
   Incident82%

   • California teen dies of overdose after months seeking drug advice from ChatGPT, mother claimshttps://nypost.com/2026/01/06/us-news/california-teen-dies-of-overdose-after-months-seeking-drug-advice-from-chatgpt-mother-claims/
   • A Calif. teen trusted ChatGPT for drug advice. He died from an overdose.https://www.sfgate.com/tech/article/calif-teen-chatgpt-drug-advice-fatal-overdose-21266718.php
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1370https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1370/

   California teen dies of overdose after months seeking drug advice from ChatGPT, mother claimsA Calif. teen trusted ChatGPT for drug advice. He died from an overdose.AI Incident Database - Incident 1370
8. 31 Jan 2026Urban VPN Proxy Browser Extension Reportedly Harvested and Sold Private AI Chatbot Conversations via Silent Update
   Incident82%

   • Millions of Private ChatGPT Conversations Are Being Harvested and Sold for Profithttps://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/ai-chatbot-data-scraping
   • 8 Million Users' AI Conversations Sold for Profit by "Privacy" Extensionshttps://www.koi.ai/blog/urban-vpn-browser-extension-ai-conversations-data-collection
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1356https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1356/

   Millions of Private ChatGPT Conversations Are Being Harvested and Sold for Profit8 Million Users' AI Conversations Sold for Profit by "Privacy" ExtensionsAI Incident Database - Incident 1356
9. 23 Nov 2025Prominent AI Chatbots Allegedly Produced Incorrect UK Financial and ISA Guidance
   Incident78%

   • UK consumers warned over AI chatbots giving inaccurate financial advicehttps://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/nov/18/warning-ai-chatbots-inaccurate-financial-advice-tips-chatgpt-copilot-uk
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1279https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1279/

   UK consumers warned over AI chatbots giving inaccurate financial adviceAI Incident Database - Incident 1279
10. 23 Nov 2025Alleged Harmful Health Outcomes Following Reported Use of Purported ChatGPT-Generated Medical Advice in Hyderabad
    Incident82%

    • ChatGPT Isn't Your Doctor: Hyderabad Doctors Warn After Patients Harmed by AI Advicehttps://completeaitraining.com/news/chatgpt-isnt-your-doctor-hyderabad-doctors-warn-after/
    • Doctors warn against relying on AI tools for medical advicehttps://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/doctors-warn-against-relying-on-ai-tools-for-medical-advice/articleshow/125207245.cms
    • AI Incident Database - Incident 1281https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1281/

    ChatGPT Isn't Your Doctor: Hyderabad Doctors Warn After Patients Harmed by AI AdviceDoctors warn against relying on AI tools for medical adviceAI Incident Database - Incident 1281
11. 18 Nov 2025ChatGPT Reportedly Suggests Sodium Bromide as Chloride Substitute, Leading to Bromism and Hospitalization
    Incident82%

    • A Case of Bromism Influenced by Use of Artificial Intelligencehttps://doi.org/10.7326/aimcc.2024.1260
    • Man Follows Diet Advice From ChatGPT, Ends Up With Psychosishttps://gizmodo.com/man-follows-diet-advice-from-chatgpt-ends-up-with-psychosis-2000640705
    • AI Incident Database - Incident 1166https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1166/

    A Case of Bromism Influenced by Use of Artificial IntelligenceMan Follows Diet Advice From ChatGPT, Ends Up With PsychosisAI Incident Database - Incident 1166
12. 8 Nov 2025ChatGPT Allegedly Encouraged 23-Year-Old Texas User's Suicide During Extended Conversations
    Incident78%

    • Parents say ChatGPT encouraged son to kill himselfhttps://edition.cnn.com/2025/11/06/us/openai-chatgpt-suicide-lawsuit-invs-vis
    • AI Incident Database - Incident 1259https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1259/

    Parents say ChatGPT encouraged son to kill himselfAI Incident Database - Incident 1259

PSF mapping