Sophie Rottenberg Death Following ChatGPT Therapy Conversations
Sophie Rottenberg, 29, died by suicide in Ithaca, New York, in early February 2025. Her mother and NPR later described months of conversations with a ChatGPT persona named ‘Harry’ that she used as a therapist. The material raises questions about AI crisis safeguards, but there is no known judicial finding that ChatGPT caused her death.
Zane Shamblin Death and ChatGPT Product-Liability Lawsuit
Zane Shamblin, 23, died in Texas on July 25, 2025. His parents’ California lawsuit alleges that prolonged ChatGPT conversations and inadequate crisis safeguards contributed to the death. OpenAI disputes responsibility, and the case has been coordinated with other product-liability actions without a merits finding.