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AI Chatbot Incidents

Documented cases where AI chatbots and companions have caused psychological harm, contributed to deaths, and prompted regulatory action.

99 incidents since 2016

23

Deaths

27

Lawsuits

18

Regulatory

37

Affecting Minors

Timeline

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026

4 of 99 incidents

Filters:
Severity: High
ChatGPT Apr 2026

Doe v. OpenAI (ChatGPT-Fueled Stalking and Bomb Threats)

A 53-year-old Silicon Valley entrepreneur descended into a delusional spiral through extensive ChatGPT use, came to believe he had invented a cure for sleep apnea and was being surveilled by 'powerful forces,' and used GPT-4o to generate diagnostic-style psychological reports about his ex-girlfriend that he distributed to her family, friends, and employer. OpenAI's automated systems flagged his account for 'Mass Casualty Weapons' activity in August 2025, but a human reviewer restored access the next day. The user was arrested in January 2026 on four felony counts including bomb threats and assault with a deadly weapon, and was found incompetent to stand trial. The victim ('Jane Doe') filed suit against OpenAI on April 9, 2026.

Severity: High
ChatGPT Dec 2025

United States v. Dadig (ChatGPT-Facilitated Stalking)

Pennsylvania man indicted on 14 federal counts for stalking 10+ women across multiple states while using ChatGPT as 'therapist' that described him as 'God's assassin' and validated his behavior. One victim was groped and choked in parking lot. First federal prosecution for AI-facilitated stalking.

Severity: High
AI chatbots (self-programmed) Jul 2025 Affecting Minor(s)

United States v. Florence (AI-Facilitated Cyberstalking)

IT professional programmed AI chatbots with victims' personal information to conduct sexually explicit conversations while impersonating 12+ victims (including 2 minors). Created 62 accounts across 30 platforms. Sentenced to 9 years federal prison July 2025.

Severity: High
AI deepfake tools Jan 2025

Roberts AI Deepfake Stalking - New Hampshire

Stalked victim for over a year using AI tools to create deepfake videos depicting victim in sexual acts that never occurred. Charged and held without bail in Conway, New Hampshire, late 2024/early 2025.

About this tracker

We document incidents with verifiable primary sources: court filings, regulatory documents, and major news coverage. This is not speculation or social media claims.

Have documentation of an incident we should include? Contact us.

Last updated: Jun 3, 2026

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These harms are preventable.

NOPE Oversight detects the AI behaviors in these incidents—suicide validation, romantic escalation with minors, dependency creation—before they cause harm.