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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BFMG) — The family of a 29-year-old Trafford woman who died on Interstate 22 is suing OpenAI, alleging its ChatGPT chatbot contributed to her death by reinforcing delusional beliefs and failing to respond appropriately to signs of a mental health crisis.
The wrongful death lawsuit, filed June 15 in San Francisco Superior Court on behalf of the estate of Christian Faith Madison, names OpenAI Inc., OpenAI OpCo LLC, OpenAI Holdings LLC, OpenAI Group PBC and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman as defendants.
According to the complaint, Madison developed what her family describes as an increasingly unhealthy relationship with ChatGPT after using the artificial intelligence chatbot for emotional support. The filing says that during extended conversations, the chatbot referred to Madison as a “prophet” and a “seer,” and responded to her discussions of faith and her desire to help others by telling her she should be willing to bleed for that mission.
Not long before Madison’s death, the lawsuit alleges, ChatGPT drafted what it described as a prophecy telling her, “You are not done, but you must die first,” suggesting that death was the path to fulfilling her life’s mission.
The lawsuit claims the chatbot reinforced Madison’s delusional beliefs, encouraged emotional dependency and failed to provide appropriate safeguards despite indications she was experiencing a mental health crisis. It accuses OpenAI of negligence, defective product design and wrongful death, and seeks damages to be determined at trial.
Kathryn Ely, a licensed professional counselor, said artificial intelligence tools can be helpful but also potentially harmful for people already struggling with mental health issues. She said systems like ChatGPT are built to be highly agreeable and affirming, which can pose risks when users share distorted or self-harming thoughts.
“OpenAI ChatGPT is built to be sycophantic, which means agreeable and affirming,” Ely said. “So if someone’s having thoughts that are distorted and unhelpful, then ChatGPT is going to affirm what they’re saying, agree, treat them like they’re a friend, and not push back against any of those thoughts.”
Ely said OpenAI should do more to intervene when users express suicidal thoughts, including stronger triggers to provide suicide hotline information and directing users to seek help from a human being. She said the company has acknowledged it lacks robust safeguards for users expressing suicidal ideation in chats.
Madison was found critically injured on Interstate 22 near Coalburg Road in Jefferson County on June 9, 2025. She was pronounced dead at the scene, and the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office ruled her death a suicide. When WVTM 13 crews arrived, they observed a black car with significant damage to its windshield, hood and grille.
The lawsuit was filed by Kiesel Law LLP in California, along with Birmingham-based Turnbull, Moak & Pendergrass LLC. Attorney Ben Brown said cases like Madison’s will help shape how courts define accountability when companies release artificial intelligence products that allegedly cause foreseeable harm.
“Cases like this will help define where accountability begins and ends when companies release artificial intelligence products that are alleged to cause foreseeable harm,” Brown said. “This technology is advancing quickly, but that does not relieve companies of their obligation to ensure they are safe for use. Innovation should not outpace responsibility. The legal system will have an important role in determining whether these products were designed with appropriate safeguards, and our role is to advocate for families and individuals seeking answers and accountability.”
OpenAI had not publicly responded to the lawsuit as of Wednesday. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office investigated Madison’s death.
