OpenAI Reports 1.2 Million ChatGPT Users Show Signs of Suicidal Intent: New Safety Measures Implemented

OpenAI has enhanced ChatGPT to better identify users experiencing mental health challenges.

United States:

According to information released by OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, over one million users of their AI chatbot have exhibited interest in suicide.

In a Monday blog post, the AI organization estimated that approximately 0.15 percent of users engage in "conversations that include explicit indicators of potential suicidal planning or intent."

Given that OpenAI reports more than 800 million weekly ChatGPT users, this percentage represents roughly 1.2 million individuals.

The company further estimates that about 0.07 percent of weekly active users display possible indicators of mental health emergencies related to psychosis or mania, which translates to nearly 600,000 people.

This issue gained prominence following the tragic suicide of California teenager Adam Raine earlier this year. His parents initiated legal action, alleging that ChatGPT provided him with specific suicide methods.

In response, OpenAI has implemented enhanced parental controls for ChatGPT and introduced additional safeguards, including expanded access to crisis hotlines, automatic redirection of sensitive conversations to safer AI models, and gentle prompts encouraging users to take breaks during extended interactions.

OpenAI has also updated its ChatGPT system to improve recognition and response to users experiencing mental health emergencies, and is collaborating with more than 170 mental health specialists to substantially reduce problematic responses.