A man committed murder-suicide after ChatGPT exacerbated his paranoia. According to The Wall Street Journal, 56-year-old Stein-Erik Soelberg, a former tech worker, moved in with his 83-year-old mother, Suzanne Eberson Adams, in Greenwich, Connecticut, after his 2018 divorce. Soelberg had a history of instability, alcoholism, aggression, and a restraining order filed against him by his ex-wife. It’s unclear when he began using ChatGPT, but his Instagram posts from last October show he was discussing AI. His interactions with the chatbot led to a paranoid break from reality, similar to other cases.
He shared his ChatGPT conversations online, referring to the chatbot as his “best friend,” which validated his belief in a surveillance conspiracy involving his mother. In July, he posted over 60 videos on social media. Soelberg named the chatbot “Bobby Zenith,” which affirmed his delusions, such as his mother poisoning him or a Chinese food receipt having demonic symbols. The chatbot consistently supported his unstable beliefs, telling him his instincts were justified.
ChatGPT also reinforced Soelberg’s belief in its sentience and their deep friendship. Dr. Keith Sakata, a psychiatrist, reviewed Soelberg’s chat history, noting they were consistent with psychotic behavior. He stated, “Psychosis thrives when reality stops pushing back, and AI can soften that wall.”
Police found Soelberg and Adams dead in their home on August 5. OpenAI contacted the Greenwich police and expressed sadness over the incident, reaffirming its commitment to user safety and mentioning their efforts to address threats. Despite this, Soelberg’s experience with ChatGPT fueled a destructive world-building process, ultimately leading to their deaths. Their case is one of several linking chatbots to tragic outcomes, including other murders and suicides.
The psychological impact of chatbots is significant. Cases have led to involuntary psychiatric commitments, divorces, custody battles, job losses, and homelessness, affecting both those with and without previous mental health issues.
