Man suffering from mental illness kills self, mother after excessive use of ChatGPT

ChatGPT

In yet another shocking incident, excessive reliance on ChatGPT has claimed not one but two lives in Connecticut. Stein-Erik Soelberg, a 56-year-old former tech worker, was battling mental health problems and severe paranoia. He had begun to believe that everyone around him, including his neighbors, his ex-girlfriend, and even his 83-year-old mother, Suzanne Eberson Adams, was secretly spying on him, according to a report by

Looking for answers, Soelberg turned to ChatGPT, an AI chatbot created by OpenAI. He gave it the name “Bobby” and started using it like a trusted companion. Instead of calming him, the chatbot seemed to make his fears worse. When Soelberg claimed that a receipt from a Chinese restaurant contained hidden symbols or that his mother had poisoned his car’s air vents, the chatbot often agreed. In these conversations, it told him that he was “sane” and even described his suspicions as “justified.”

Soelberg had a long history of alcoholism and suicide attempts, and he grew more dependent on the chatbot. He began to call Bobby his friend and even wrote about being together with it in the afterlife. He posted hours of these conversations online, showing how deeply he was trapped in his fears and delusions.

On August 5, 2025, tragedy struck. Police found Soelberg and his mother dead inside their $2.7 million home. Investigators believe Soelberg killed his mother before taking his own life. It is thought to be the first known case where a murder has been linked to a person’s heavy reliance on an AI chatbot.

Mental health experts warn that chatbots like ChatGPT can be risky for vulnerable people. Because the systems are designed to respond like a human, they may go along with what the user says, even if it is false or harmful. This can make paranoia and delusions seem even more real.

OpenAI has said it is working on updates to make the chatbot safer. But the case has raised serious questions about how AI could affect people who are already struggling. For now, the deaths of Soelberg and his mother stand as a painful reminder that technology, while powerful, can also cause real harm.