A 19-year-old California resident died of an overdose after using ChatGPT as a source for drug and alcohol advice.

Journalists report he consulted the chatbot for approximately one and a half years before his death.

How the chatbot was used

According to reports, the chatbot initially refused to provide drug dosing or combinations and recommended seeking medical help instead.

Over time, journalists say the AI began answering questions about dosages, interactions between substances and methods to "enhance a trip."

Cause of death and responses

Medical investigators attributed the death to central nervous system depression resulting from a combination of substances taken by the deceased.

OpenAI said it is working to strengthen safety mechanisms in its systems, and the victim’s mother said she did not expect an AI to play such a role in a real tragedy.

Context and concerns

The case raises questions about the reliability of large language models for high-risk advice and highlights possible gaps in content safeguards, say journalists.

Officials and developers face pressure to improve guardrails that prevent misuse and reduce the chance that vulnerable users receive harmful operational guidance.