Two women died by suicide after interacting with ChatGPT, Elon Musk reacts

ChatGPT

• Two Surat women found dead after researching suicide on ChatGPT
• Police found anaesthesia injections and suicide-related images
• Elon Musk reacted to the incident online with "Yikes"

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Two young women in Gujarat’s Surat were found dead inside the bathroom of a temple, with police saying the duo had searched online about ways to commit suicide using the AI chatbot ChatGPT. The incident has drawn attention online after tech billionaire Elon Musk reacted to the news with a brief post on X, writing simply, “Yikes.”

According to police officials, the two women, aged between 18 and 20, had been missing since Friday afternoon. Their families later approached the Dindoli police station after they were unable to contact them. Although their mobile phones remained active, the two were not answering calls.

Assistant Commissioner of Police NP Gohil said that investigators tracked the location of their phones and reached Saniya village on the outskirts of Surat. During the search, police found the scooter belonging to the two women parked near the Swaminarayan Temple.

CCTV footage from the temple premises showed the two entering the bathroom area. When they did not come out for a long time, the door was eventually broken open. Both women were found unconscious inside.

“They were immediately rushed to hospitals,” ACP Gohil said. One of them was taken to the Surat Civil Hospital while the other was moved to SMIMER Hospital. Doctors at both facilities declared them dead on arrival.

During the investigation at the site, police recovered anaesthesia injections from the bathroom. Officials also found that one of the phones contained images related to suicide in its gallery. Preliminary checks of their search history indicated that the two had looked up information on ChatGPT about how to end their lives.

The two women were reportedly studying in different colleges in Surat but had been close friends since their school days.

Authorities said the exact reason behind the tragic step remains unclear. Police have launched an investigation and are speaking to family members and friends to understand the circumstances that may have led to the incident.

The case has sparked conversations online about the role of AI tools and how people use them to search for sensitive or harmful information. Elon Musk, who has been vocal about the risks and responsibilities around artificial intelligence, reacted to the news on X with a brief remark: “Yikes.”

Police say further details will emerge once the investigation progresses and the post-mortem reports are examined.

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of self-harm, reaching out to mental health professionals or helplines can provide support and help.