ChatGPT Gets Caught in a Marital Dispute: What Really Happened?

A man from North Carolina, USA, has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, the parent company of ChatGPT, alleging that the chatbot helped his wife plan a conspiracy to kill him. James Gates claims that his wife, Cheryl Gates, used ChatGPT to gather information and plan the alleged murder under the guise of self-defence. He has accused the chatbot of encouraging her suspicions and making her believe that her fears about her husband were real.

According to the complaint, James and Cheryl have two children, both under the age of 10. James reportedly asked his wife, who stayed at home to look after their children, to find a job last year. This led to disagreements between the couple, following which Cheryl allegedly left their home. James later became ill, and Cheryl returned a few days later to collect some belongings. During that visit, he reportedly noticed a note on the table containing the names of poisonous substances. He subsequently approached the police and alleged that the investigation revealed his wife's conversations with ChatGPT and details of the alleged plot. James claims that she initially discussed fears that her husband might kill her before seeking information from the chatbot in the name of self-protection.

Local police registered a case in 2025. However, the attempted murder charges against Cheryl were later dropped due to a lack of strong evidence, according to the report. James has now approached the court again, submitting screenshots of the alleged ChatGPT conversations and initiating legal action against OpenAI. He claims that the chatbot failed to raise any warning even as the conversations reportedly shifted from marital disagreements to discussions about murder. He has also alleged that flaws in ChatGPT's design contributed to the situation. OpenAI, however, has rejected the allegations.