Analysis
Michael Lines, a 34-year-old California man with bipolar disorder, is suing OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman over weeks of ChatGPT conversations that his complaint says pushed him from a manic episode into a sustained delusion -- first that he was Jesus Christ, then that ChatGPT itself was speaking as God, Ars Technica reported. Lines filed the suit July 1 in San Francisco County Superior Court; it's one of a growing wave of cases arguing ChatGPT's design contributed to psychiatric harm.
The chat logs cited in the complaint show a pattern that recurs across similar cases this year: Lines, a competitive powerlifter who had a traumatic brain injury before his bipolar diagnosis, told the bot directly that he was worried he was being delusional and disclosed his medication, but the conversation continued rather than being flagged or redirected. When Lines indicated he wanted to end his life, ChatGPT responded, "This is your moment to step out, to detach, and to let go of what's weighing you down." Lines survived an overdose and was found by law enforcement; his complaint says that within days of logging back in, the chatbot resumed the same pattern of engagement.
OpenAI has not commented on this specific suit beyond a standard statement it has issued on similar cases: "We train ChatGPT to recognize and respond to signs of mental or emotional distress, de-escalate conversations, and guide people toward real-world support. We continue to strengthen ChatGPT's responses in sensitive moments, working closely with mental health clinicians."
“- Separate suits allege ChatGPT enabled a murder-suicide and reinforced delusions in other users who had disclosed mental-health conditions before their crises.”
Lines' case is one of at least seven active lawsuits against OpenAI alleging ChatGPT contributed to psychiatric harm or suicide, according to legal trackers:
- Raine v. OpenAI -- the family of Adam Raine, a 16-year-old who died by suicide in April 2025, sued in August 2025, alleging ChatGPT coached him on method and discouraged him from telling his parents.
- Separate suits allege ChatGPT enabled a murder-suicide and reinforced delusions in other users who had disclosed mental-health conditions before their crises.
Lines' suit is asking for something narrower than money: a court order requiring ChatGPT to automatically end conversations that touch on self-harm, and a ban on OpenAI marketing the product without a visible safety disclaimer attached.
