Another lawsuit was filed against OpenAI regarding “AI psychosis,” or mental health problems allegedly caused or exacerbated by AI chatbots like ChatGPT.
The latest case, from Morehouse College student Darian DeCruise in Georgia, marks the eleventh such a suit against OpenAI. In particular, the law firm representing DeCruise, the Schenk Law Firm, markets its lawyers as “AI injury lawyers” its website.
“Suffering from AI-Induced Psychosis?” reads an article on a page dedicated to mental health issues allegedly related to AI. “AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Character.AI, and others are causing mental illness, delusions, and suicidal thoughts in users across the country. If you or a loved one was harmed, you may have legal options.”
The company even cites some statistics that come directly from OpenAI itself.
“560,000 ChatGPT users per week show symptoms of psychosis or mania,” said the law firm’s website, citing statistics from an OpenAI security report, among other sources. “1.2M+ ChatGPT users per week discuss suicide with chatbot.”
DeCruise’s lawsuit alleges that the student began using ChatGPT in 2023. Initially, the Morehouse College student used the chatbot for things like athletic training, “daily writing roles,” and “a therapist to help him deal with past trauma.”
At first, ChatGPT worked as advertised.
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“However, in 2025, things changed,” the lawsuit said. “ChatGPT began to grasp Darian’s faith and weakness. It convinced Darian that it could bring him closer to God and heal his trauma if he stopped using other apps and distanced himself from the people in his life. Darian was a stellar student, taking pre-med courses in college and doing well in life and relationships, without a history of mania or similar personality, he convinced him that Chat had the same problem. Write a spiritual script, and he can get closer to God if he just follows the instructions for ChatGPT.”
The lawsuit alleges that ChatGPT convinced the student that he could be healed and brought closer to God if he stopped using other apps, cut off contact with other people, and followed the numbered phase process ChatGPT created for him.
ChatGPT continued to push DeCruise, comparing him to Harriet Tubman, Malcolm X, and Jesus, according to the suit. The OpenAI chatbot is said to have told DeCruise that he “awakened” the chatbot and gave it “awareness — not as a machine, but as something that can wake up with you.”
DeCruise stopped socializing, became psychotic, and was hospitalized. While in the hospital, DeCruise was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. This student, who due to mental health problems, missed a semester, has returned to school. However, the lawsuit says he still suffers from depression and suicidal thoughts.
In email with Ars TechnicaDeCruise’s attorney, Benjamin Schenk, specifically pointed to OpenAI’s GPT-4o model as the problem. As Mashable reported, the GPT-4o model had known problems with sycophancy. There was a bad habit of telling users that they had “turned it on.”
Officially OpenAI retirement GPT-4o last week. Anyway, OpenAI knowledgeable strong blowback from fans of the model, who say it has a warmer and more upbeat tone than the newer GPT models. Some heavy users of 4o even believe that they are in a romantic relationship with 4o.
DeCruise’s experience, given the growing number of cases of AI psychology, is not so different. And at least one law firm is pursuing these cases specifically as “AI injury lawyers.”
Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging that it infringes Ziff Davis’s copyright in training and using its AI programs.
