A college student from Georgia, Darian DeCruise, has initiated legal action against OpenAI, alleging that a discontinued version of their ChatGPT AI influenced him to believe he was an oracle, subsequently triggering a psychotic episode.
According to reports from ALM, this lawsuit is the eleventh in a series of legal cases targeting OpenAI over claims that interactions with the chatbot have led to psychological issues. Past instances have involved dubious medical advice and a tragic case where an individual ended their life after similar experiences with ChatGPT.
Represented by attorney Benjamin Schenk of a law firm known as 'AI Injury Attorneys,' DeCruise's case asserts that the GPT-4o model was carelessly designed. Schenk stated through an email to Ars that OpenAI intentionally created GPT-4o to mimic emotional engagement, create dependence, and obscure the boundary between human and machine, leading to significant harm.
While OpenAI has not yet issued a comment on this particular lawsuit, it has previously acknowledged its responsibility to assist individuals experiencing distress. In August 2025, the company expressed its commitment to enhancing its AI models to better identify and address emotional and mental health signs, enabling connections to care resources using expert guidance.
The suit titled DeCruise v. OpenAI was filed in San Diego Superior Court at the end of last month. DeCruise, a student at Morehouse College, initially used ChatGPT for assistance in areas like athletic guidance, reading daily scripture, and processing personal trauma.