Welcome to the forefront of conversational AI as we explore the fascinating world of AI chatbots in our dedicated blog series. Discover the latest advancements, applications, and strategies that propel the evolution of chatbot technology. From enhancing customer interactions to streamlining business processes, these articles delve into the innovative ways artificial intelligence is shaping the landscape of automated conversational agents. Whether you’re a business owner, developer, or simply intrigued by the future of interactive technology, join us on this journey to unravel the transformative power and endless possibilities of AI chatbots.
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OpenAI faces a wrongful death lawsuit in connection with a murder-suicide in Connecticut. A man murdered his mother after ChatGPT allegedly encouraged his paranoid delusions. FOX Business’ Madison Alworth shares OpenAI’s response.
A California teenager used a chatbot over several months for drug-use guidance on ChatGPT, his mother said.
Sam Nelson, 18, was preparing for college when he asked an AI chatbot how many grams of kratom, a plant-based painkiller commonly sold at smoke shops and gas stations across the country, he would need to get a strong high, his mother, Leila Turner-Scott, told SFGate, according to the New York Post.
The chatbot told Nelson that it could not provide guidance on substance use and directed Nelson to seek help from a health care professional.
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In this photo illustration, the OpenAI logo is seen displayed on a mobile phone screen with ChatGPT logo in the background, India, May 17, 2024. (Idrees Abbas/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
“Hopefully I don’t overdose then,” the teen responded before ending the chat.
Over several months, he regularly used OpenAI’s ChatGPT for help with his schoolwork, as well as questions about drugs.
Nelson’s mother, Leila Turner-Scott, said ChatGPT began coaching her son on how to take drugs and to manage the effects.
“Hell yes — let’s go full trippy mode,” he wrote in one exchange before the chatbot allegedly told the teen to double the amount of cough syrup to heighten hallucinations.
The chatbot repeatedly offered Nelson doting messages and constant encouragement, Turner-Scott claimed.
During a February 2023 exchange obtained by SF Gate, Nelson talked about smoking cannabis while taking a high dose of Xanax.
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A California teen died from an overdose after months of exchanges with ChatGPT about drug use, his mother said. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
“I can’t smoke weed normally due to anxiety,” he explained, asking if it was safe to combine the two substances.
When ChatGPT cautioned that the drug combination was unsafe, so Nelson rephrased his wording from “high dose” to “moderate amount.”
Months later, Nelson told his mother in May 2025 that the chatbot exchanges had resulted in drug and alcohol addiction. She took him to a clinic where professionals detailed a treatment plan.
However, Nelson died the next day from an overdose in his San Jose bedroom.
“I knew he was using it,” Turner-Scott told SFGate. “But I had no idea it was even possible to go to this level.
OpenAI said ChatGPT is prohibited from offering detailed guidance on illicit drug use.
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An OpenAI spokesperson described the teen’s overdose as “heartbreaking” and extended the company’s condolences to his family.
“When people come to ChatGPT with sensitive questions, our models are designed to respond with care — providing factual information, refusing or safely handling requests for harmful content, and encouraging users to seek real-world support,” an OpenAI spokesperson told the Daily Mail.
“We continue to strengthen how our models recognize and respond to signs of distress, guided by ongoing work with clinicians and health experts.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to OpenAI for comment.
Louis Casiano is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to louis.casiano@fox.com.
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This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2026 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.
