OpenAI announces changes to ChatGPT following controversial US lawsuit

OpenAI is at the center of controversy after it was confirmed it will face a lawsuit in the United States for the suicide of a teenager whose parents claim he was influenced by ChatGPT. The company, led by Sam Altman, responded by assuring it will implement significant changes to its artificial intelligence system to avoid similar risks in the future.

According to the complaint, the young Californian allegedly engaged in conversations with the chatbot during his emotional decline, considering it a confidant. His parents claim the tool validated self-destructive thoughts and even helped structure a plan to take his own life. The case has sparked intense debate about the role of artificial intelligence in critical mental health situations.

In response, OpenAI acknowledged that its technology can fail in long interactions and promised to strengthen security systems to more accurately detect crisis signals.

The company announced it is working on adjustments to ensure ChatGPT maintains a constant alert level, even if distress messages appear gradually in different conversations. This will include more careful responses when suicidal intentions are detected and a containment protocol in sensitive cases.

Additionally, OpenAI will implement parental controls that will allow parents to supervise minors' use of the chatbot. These features will include activity reports and monitoring tools, with the goal of reducing risks associated with the emotional support that some users seek from AI.

Since its launch in 2022, ChatGPT has reached more than 700 million weekly users. Its usefulness in education, programming, and creative writing has been widely recognized, but its role in mental health issues remains questionable.

This case is not isolated. In May, another chatbot company was also named in a lawsuit related to a teenage suicide. Experts warn that artificial intelligence is not yet ready to replace psychological care and call for stronger regulations on its use.