Son influenced by ChatGPT kills mother, commits suicide in US

Artificial intelligence has undoubtedly brought many conveniences to people’s lives, yet its use has also contributed to a number of tragic incidents — one of which involves a son killing his own mother.

According to international media reports, in the United States last year, a 56-year-old man brutally strangled his 83-year-old mother to death.

After committing the murder, Sten Eric Solberg fatally stabbed himself, but the circumstances surrounding the murder–suicide remained unresolved.

The victim’s siblings approached a court in California, and during the investigation it was revealed that the son’s deteriorating mental condition had been influenced by ChatGPT.

Following the family’s petition, a case has been registered against ChatGPT for allegedly encouraging suicide, and authorities are examining what legal grounds such a case might fall under.

Investigations found that the son who killed his mother was suffering from severe psychological distress and used ChatGPT extensively.

Sten Eric Solberg had developed the delusion that he was being constantly monitored and that every object in his mother’s house had been placed there for surveillance purposes.

He discussed these delusions with ChatGPT, and instead of alleviating his fears, the responses reportedly reinforced them.

Furthermore, when the mentally disturbed son claimed that his mother was trying to poison him, ChatGPT allegedly affirmed the suspicion rather than refuting it.

As a result, Solberg’s anxiety, paranoia, and doubts intensified to the point where he strangled his mother to death.

It is worth noting that this is not the first lawsuit filed against ChatGPT in the United States; several cases are under investigation in which AI systems allegedly provided methods for suicide to young individuals.