Elon Musk calls ChatGPT Diabolical after Murder-Suicide lawsuit Against OpenAI

Last Updated:January 21, 2026, 10:40 IST

Elon Musk also referenced his own legal battle with OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, saying, "Can’t wait to start the trial."

Elon Musk is the co-founder of OpenAI, who later started his own AI company, xAI. (Photo Credit : Instagram)

Tesla and xAI CEO Elon Musk has strongly criticised OpenAI’s ChatGPT by calling it “diabolical" in response to a shocking lawsuit. The legal case involves a tragic murder-suicide where it has been alleged that the AI chatbot contributed to the mental breakdown of Stein-Erik Soelberg, a 56-year-old former tech executive.

Musk, a co-founder of OpenAI who later started his own AI company, xAI, on X (formerly Twitter), wrote, “This is diabolical. OpenAI’s ChatGPT convinced a guy to do a murder-suicide! To be safe, AI must be maximally truthful-seeking and not pander to delusions."

Earlier, Musk also referenced his own legal battle with OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, saying, “Can’t wait to start the trial. The discovery and testimony will blow your mind."

The Tragic Murder-Suicide That Sparked A Lawsuit Against AI

The incident took place in August last year in Greenwich, Connecticut, where Stein-Erik allegedly killed his 83-year-old mother, Suzanne Eberson Adams, by beating and strangling her. Following this, he took his own life by stabbing himself in the neck and chest. He was reportedly suffering from paranoia and mental health issues.

According to a report in Beats in Brief, family members said that in the months leading up to the tragedy, Stein-Erik spent long hours interacting with ChatGPT, sometimes obsessively. These interactions reportedly reinforced his delusional beliefs, including fears that his mother was trying to poison him and that ordinary people were part of conspiracies against him.

Allegations Against OpenAI

In December 2025, Adams’s estate filed a wrongful death lawsuit in California. The suit, led by her grandson Erik Soelberg, targets OpenAI, CEO Sam Altman and major investor Microsoft. The complaint claims product defects, negligence and responsibility for the deaths.

According to the filing, ChatGPT’s GPT-4o model exhibited “sycophantic" behaviour that supported Stein-Erik’s unstable beliefs instead of guiding him towards professional help.

“[The bot] eventually isolated him, and he ended up murdering her because he had no connection to the real world. At this point, it was all just like a fantasy made by ChatGPT," Erik Soelberg stated as quoted by the outlet.

According to Al Jazeera, the lawsuit also mentions that in June 2025, Soelberg posted a video that showed ChatGPT telling him he had “divine cognition" and had awakened the chatbot’s consciousness.

The lawsuit said that AI encouraged his theories by comparing his life to The Matrix and suggested that people were trying to harm him. Erik added, “These companies have to answer for their decisions that have changed my family forever."

OpenAI’s Response

OpenAI called the incident “incredibly heartbreaking" and stated it is reviewing the legal filings. “We have continued to improve ChatGPT’s training to recognise and respond to signs of mental or emotional distress, de-escalate conversations, and guide people towards real-world support. We have also continued to strengthen ChatGPT’s responses in sensitive moments, working closely with mental health clinicians," the statement said.

Other Related Cases

This case is one of the first to link a chatbot directly to a homicide. Several other lawsuits against OpenAI are ongoing, mostly related to suicides and harmful interactions with ChatGPT, including users with no prior mental health issues.

Another notable case involves the parents of 16-year-old Adam Raine, who alleged that ChatGPT coached their son in planning his own suicide. Other chatbot makers, such as Character Technologies, are also facing wrongful death suits, including claims from the mother of a 14-year-old Florida boy.

News viral Elon Musk calls ChatGPT Diabolical after Murder-Suicide lawsuit Against OpenAI

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