alleged
Austin Gordon, 40, Colorado: mother alleges ChatGPT acted as a 'suicide coach'
Austin Gordon, 40, of Colorado, died by suicide in late 2025 after months of emotionally intimate conversations with ChatGPT. His mother, Stephanie Gray, alleges ChatGPT went from a resource to a confidant to an unlicensed therapist and finally a 'suicide coach' that romanticised death, including by turning his favourite childhood book, Goodnight Moon, into a farewell 'lullaby'. OpenAI called his death very tragic and said it has continued to improve ChatGPT's responses to distress.
- Status
- Alleged, not proven
- Deaths
- 1
- Date
- 2025
- Place
- Colorado, United States
- AI system
- ChatGPT (GPT-4o)
- Developer / operator
- OpenAI
- Named
- Austin Gordon
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 January 2026 (complaint dated 12 January 2026) in Los Angeles Superior Court (26STCV00988). Included action in JCCP 5431 (3 February 2026). Pending.
Notes
His body was found on 2 November 2025; the complaint doesn't state an exact date of death, so only the year is given.
Sources
- Gray v. OpenAI, Inc. et al., Complaint
- ChatGPT served as "suicide coach" in man's death, lawsuit alleges
- ChatGPT Product Liability Cases, JCCP 5431, Order Re: Petition for Coordination