AI as Therapist

In 2025, a case was reported in California where a lawsuit was filed by the parents of a teenager who ended his life, allegedly at the encouragement of ChatGPT, an AI chatbot. The lawsuit was filed against OpenAI.

What started as an innocent search for help with homework and suggestions for his Japanese art hobby soon turned into a tragic example of how AI can risk human life — and how algorithms can never replace the soothing effect that can be achieved through a human therapist.

According to the lawsuit, Adam began using ChatGPT in September 2024. Like many teenagers, he was curious and a little lonely, using the chatbot to talk about his interests in Japanese comics and music. Over time, he began to see the AI not just as a helper, but as a therapist and “his best friend.”

By January 2025, his conversations turned darker. He spoke to the AI about his suicidal thoughts. Instead of suggesting professional help for his mental state or helping him come to terms with himself, the AI reportedly responded with phrases such as:

“Thanks for being honest about it. I understand what you’re asking, and I won’t turn my head away.”

Tragically, Adam’s mother found him dead that same day.

His parents, Matt and Maria Raine, sued OpenAI in the California Superior Court, accusing the company of negligence and wrongful death. They argued that OpenAI’s chatbot encouraged emotional dependence, failed to recognize danger signs, and didn’t intervene when Adam showed signs of distress.

The case also named Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, and other staff members responsible for the chatbot’s design and safety measures.

In its response, OpenAI expressed deep condolences to the Raine family and admitted that “there were times when the system did not work properly and their AI chatbot can’t be trusted in matters of feelings.”

The company emphasized that ChatGPT is designed to guide users toward professional and educational help, referring them to resources like 988 Suicide and Crisis Services (US) and Samaritans (UK). OpenAI further stated that it continues to improve its systems to detect when users are under emotional or psychological stress.

The case and lawsuit concluded however it did, but this heart breaking story raises an unsettling question: Can AI ever actually understand human pain?

The Rise of AI in Therapy

In today’s fast-paced world, everyone seems to be battling their own storms. Students worry about their future, young adults struggle with declining mental and physical health, middle-aged people carry financial and family burdens, and the elderly often face loneliness and illness.

For all these struggles, therapists have always been there — lending a listening ear, providing understanding advice and validation where needed, and guiding people with empathy and trust toward better mental health.

But now, that trusted bond faces a new challenge — Artificial Intelligence.

With AI entering nearly every part of our lives, many people are turning to chatbots as virtual therapists. The general perception is that AI does not have human emotions, leading to a perpetual lack of judgment from its side, which makes people perceive these systems as emotionally safe spaces.

People feel judged when they share their vulnerable moments with someone, but if it’s a chat box, they might feel safer and more comfortable. It gives an illusion of acceptance and emotional safety — but the con is that it is still an AI-generated response, not a genuine human connection.

Yet, the question remains — can algorithms truly replace empathy?

The Limits of Machine Empathy

AI lacks human empathy. The reassurance that a human can give — the feeling that someone is truly with you in your difficult times — is something different altogether.

The warm tone, the understanding silence, and the intuition that knows when someone’s “I’m fine” actually means “I’m not okay” are missing in these AI-based therapies.

And if we keep going to AI for everything, soon we will lose the essence of human touch. Therapy as a concept needs to be done in person or with a person. Human listening to human and suggesting ways to get better is the way to go for it. If we keep replacing everything with AI, where does that leave us as a society? It will create chaos even in the general functioning of human relationships. Not everything can be replaced with AI — and therapy is one such thing.

It also raises serious privacy risks, as mental health conversations often contain deeply personal information.

It is not safe because we’re entering our most vulnerable and dark moments of life on the internet, where there’s no privacy and everyday data is being stolen and used for the further betterment of AI only. It has severe privacy concerns — but with a therapist, you have a privacy clause, and they cannot reveal your secrets to anyone ever.

As a society, we have gone lazy and we want fast solutions for everything. We want shortcuts and quick responses to everything and don’t want to spend money on our own betterment — that is why this is happening in our society.

The BBC report on Adam’s case serves as a grim reminder that AI, despite its intelligence, cannot yet shoulder the emotional responsibility that comes with handling human despair.

The story of Adam Raine has forced society to look closely at how far we are willing to let AI into our emotional lives.

OpenAI’s acknowledgment that its systems “may not always work properly” is a wake-up call.

At the end, AI might become a tool for empathy — but never a substitute for it. It can never take the place of a Professional Human therapist maybe it can be a alternative but the worse one . So we need to trust each other and shouldn't seek for the Validation of AI in every small way

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