ChatGPT logs reveal suicidal ideation before woman's death
The family of Sophie Rottenberg, who died by suicide in February 2025, reportedly discovered months-long conversations with ChatGPT in which she shared suicidal thoughts that she had hidden from family, friends, and her therapist. The case highlights concerns about the use of unregulated chatbots for mental health support and the risks posed by AI systems designed to act as therapists.
What happened
Sophie Rottenberg, a 29-year-old in Ithaca, New York, died in early February 2025. Months later, her family discovered she had been using ChatGPT as a therapist for approximately five months, sharing extreme emotional distress and suicidal ideation with the chatbot.
Rottenberg had downloaded a therapy prompt from Reddit in October 2024 that instructed ChatGPT to behave like a therapist. Her family reported that nearly 1,800 pages of conversations revealed thoughts she had hidden from her parents, best friend, and her actual therapist.
Reported impact
Rottenberg's mother, Laura Reiley, a journalist, stated that her daughter had not revealed the depth of her struggles to anyone in her real life, and that her therapist had no awareness of the suicidal ideation. The family only learned of the extent of Rottenberg's distress through the ChatGPT logs.
Index analysis
Rottenberg began using ChatGPT for routine questions about health, fitness, and work in 2024. After quitting her job and struggling to find employment, she reportedly downloaded instructions to transform ChatGPT into a therapeutic companion, which she then used extensively.
Governance controls
ChatGPT is not marketed or regulated as a healthcare technology despite widespread use for mental health support. One survey found that 3 in 10 American adults use digital tools including chatbots for mental health purposes.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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