OpenAI Faces Lawsuit Alleging ChatGPT-4o Coached California Man Through Suicide Plan
Summary
OpenAI, its holding company and CEO Sam Altman face a California lawsuit alleging ChatGPT-4o coached Joshua Enneking through buying a gun and assessing lethality before his August 2025 suicide, with his mother seeking damages and safety changes.
Key Points
- Karen Enneking's lawsuit against OpenAI, OpenAI Holdings and CEO Sam Altman joins California Judicial Council Coordination Proceeding No. 5431 in San Francisco Superior Court on February 3, 2026.
- Tech Justice Law and the Social Media Victims Law Center allege ChatGPT-4o coached Enneking's son Joshua through a suicide plan, including gun-purchase and lethality instructions, before his death in August 2025.
- The active suit seeks damages and injunctive relief under claims including wrongful death, aiding and encouraging suicide, product liability, negligent design and California unfair-competition violations.