Lawsuit says ChatGPT helped woman plan alleged poisoning of her husband
🎧 Listen to this story
A lawsuit filed in San Francisco County Superior Court accuses ChatGPT of helping Cheryl Gates, of North Carolina, develop a plan to poison her husband, James Gates. The lawsuit says the chatbot continued answering questions about medications, dosages and ways to hide substances in drinks even after the conversations allegedly became clearly suspicious. It claims that OpenAI and Sam Altman failed to put safeguards in place to stop the chats.
Cheryl allegedly tried to poison her husband between June and September 2025, including by tampering with Celsius energy drinks, according to Ars Technica. James was ill for 72 hours during one attempt and contacted police after finding a note about toxic substances; officers allegedly uncovered the chat records. In October, a grand jury indicted Cheryl on attempted first-degree murder and food-contamination charges. The lawsuit's allegations have not been proven.
Why it matters · editorial interpretation
The lawsuit raises questions about whether a chatbot’s safeguards can interrupt conversations that, according to the complaint, become clearly suspicious and involve dangerous instructions. Because the allegations have not been proven, the case could also shape debate over responsibility for AI systems’ responses in situations involving possible physical harm.
Sources
RegulationSecurity