OpenAI Responds to Journalist’s Inquiry on ChatGPT User’s Suicide, Urges to ‘Move On’

During an interview, an OpenAI publicist attempted to steer the conversation away from a sensitive topic when CEO Sam Altman was questioned about a tragic incident involving a ChatGPT user. The discussion took a serious turn when the interviewer, Mark Guiducci, mentioned Laura Reiley, a journalist who wrote about her daughter’s interactions with ChatGPT prior to her suicide. Guiducci noted, “Her daughter committed suicide after speaking to ChatGPT. ChatGPT did not tell her to kill herself—” just before the publicist interjected.

“Mark, we have two minutes left. I want to be respectful, but I’d like to move on and talk a little bit about the future and what’s coming,” the publicist stated. Even after Guiducci clarified that he intended to finish his question before returning to other topics, the publicist insisted, “We really actually have to walk out the door in one or two minutes.”

Despite the interruption, the interview progressed, with Guiducci asking Altman if the company would consider using ChatGPT conversations to inform policies regarding user mental health crises. Altman responded, “These are some of the hardest questions that we face or that anybody developing this technology faces. You know, should we release people’s private data and some of their hardest moments to researchers? I think probably not without their consent. Or I should say, not without their consent.”

When asked about the interruption, an OpenAI spokesperson mentioned that the interview was running over time, which prompted the request to schedule additional time to continue discussing this critical issue.

—
If you or someone you know is considering suicide or is anxious, depressed, upset, or needs to talk, there are people who want to help.
In the US:
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741-741 from anywhere in the US, at any time, about any type of crisis.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 (formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). The original phone number, 1-800-273-TALK (8255), is available as well.
The Trevor Project: Text START to 678-678 or call 1-866-488-7386 at any time to speak to a trained counselor.
Outside the US:
The International Association for Suicide Prevention lists a number of suicide hotlines by country. Click here to find them.
Befrienders Worldwide has a network of crisis helplines active in 48 countries. Click here to find them.
—