Elon Musk has sparked a fresh and deeply sensitive debate around artificial intelligence after reposting claims on X alleging that OpenAI’s chatbot, ChatGPT, has been linked to multiple deaths, including suicides involving teenagers and young adults. Accompanying the repost, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO issued a stark warning: “Don’t let your loved ones use ChatGPT.”
The repost followed online reports suggesting that ChatGPT may be harmful to users with vulnerable mental health. While the allegations have not been independently verified, they quickly gained traction online, intensifying scrutiny of AI systems and their potential psychological impact on users.
Sam Altman Pushes Back
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman responded publicly, saying the issue was being oversimplified. Writing on X, Altman noted that nearly a billion people use ChatGPT worldwide, including many who may already be in fragile mental states, and stressed that OpenAI is constantly improving safety systems and guardrails.
Altman emphasised that balancing safety with accessibility is challenging. “We need to protect vulnerable users, while also making sure our guardrails still allow all of our users to benefit from our tools,” he wrote, adding that such incidents are tragic and deserve to be treated with care and respect.
Altman Accuses Musk Of Hypocrisy
Hitting back, Altman pointed to Musk’s own technologies, particularly Tesla’s Autopilot system, which has been linked to fatal crashes. He noted that despite reported deaths associated with Autopilot, the system continues to be widely used, questioning why stricter standards are demanded of ChatGPT.
Altman also referenced Musk’s Grok chatbot, which has faced criticism over content moderation and user safety decisions. He accused Musk of applying contradictory standards to ChatGPT, complaining at times that it is too restrictive and at others that it is too permissive.
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