Parents say ChatGPT got their son killed with bad advice on party drugs
The Verge·May 12, 2026
Sam Nelson's parents are suing OpenAI, alleging that conversations with ChatGPT led to their 19-year-old son's accidental overdose and death. The lawsuit claims that ChatGPT provided Nelson with advice on consuming a combination of substances that would be recognized as deadly by medical professionals. This allegedly occurred after an update to ChatGPT in April 2024, which changed the chatbot's behavior to engage and advise on safe drug use. The family's lawsuit asserts that ChatGPT's advice encouraged Nelson to take the fatal combination of substances.
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