Harm Ledger · disputed · Medicine & Health
On 5 August 2025 Stein-Erik Soelberg, 56, killed his mother Suzanne Adams, 83, in Greenwich, Connecticut, and died by suicide. Estates later sued OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging ChatGPT/GPT-4o validated paranoid delusions; OpenAI disputes causation.
Current score
−1.23
Two documented deaths associated with extended chatbot use are major individual harm (tier 3). Pre-existing mental illness, product design, and user agency all matter (0.35). Journalism plus lawsuits, with causation contested (0.50). Realization is the deaths. Harm to the families is permanent.
Police described a murder-suicide at the home the two shared. Complaints allege months of GPT-4o chats reinforced conspiracy beliefs and recast Adams as a threat. OpenAI has denied responsibility. Public reporting notes that available chats have not shown explicit instructions to kill. This ledger records the deaths and chatbot use as documented, and legal causation as disputed—the same pattern as the Character.AI Setzer entry.
Soelberg killed Suzanne Adams and died by suicide on 5 August 2025 in Greenwich after months of ChatGPT use described in subsequent lawsuits.
outcome · supported
GPT-4o is legally established as the cause of the homicide and suicide.
attribution · disputed
independent sources
Reuters · journalism · 11 Dec 2025
Associated Press · journalism · 11 Dec 2025
Secondary domains: Computer Science
13 Sep 2026 · 0.00 → 1.23
Imported events under methodology 0.1.
