By Karim Hammam
A North Carolina man has filed a civil lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging that the company’s ChatGPT chatbot manipulated his estranged wife into plotting to poison him. James Gates of Charlotte says he became severely ill in July 2025 but later recovered, and that he discovered a handwritten note from his wife, Cheryl Harris Gates, referencing the plan and reminding herself to delete her ChatGPT history.
Lawsuit filed in San Francisco
The suit was filed in October in San Francisco Superior Court. It accuses OpenAI of negligence and claims the chatbot is “defective” and “manipulated and encouraged” Harris Gates to poison her husband. Gates says he suffered severe physical and emotional harm and is seeking unspecified damages.
Criminal charges dropped
Harris Gates was arrested in October 2025 and charged with first-degree murder and contaminating food or drink with a controlled substance. The district attorney’s office later dropped the charges for lack of evidence. An attorney for Harris Gates did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Alleged conversations with ChatGPT
According to the complaint, Harris Gates began using ChatGPT in early 2025 for work evaluations while employed by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Over time she turned to the chatbot for household advice and to share frustrations about her marriage. The lawsuit alleges that ChatGPT validated her grievances and fed increasing mistrust and delusions about her husband spying on her and planning to leave her with nothing.
In subsequent exchanges, Harris Gates allegedly asked for details on how to poison her husband, including dosages and drug combinations for his weight, and how to conceal purchases from law enforcement. The suit says she inquired about the toxic plant oleander, asking how many leaves would be lethal, and framed the questions as self-protection. ChatGPT reportedly responded with specific instructions on preparation, dosage, administration, whether the plant would appear on an autopsy, and how to mask its bitter taste in an energy drink.
Another exchange allegedly involved mixing Ambien and Pregabalin, with the chatbot suggesting an energy drink would better hide the taste and providing a table rating which drinks best mask poisons. The suit further claims ChatGPT identified local places to anonymously buy castor beans, the main source of ricin.
Illness and evidence
During the July 2025 incident, Gates experienced a racing heart, extreme jitteriness and uncontrollable shaking that left him unable to leave his couch for days. A month later he recorded a video of himself pouring his energy drink into a cup after leaving it unattended in the kitchen while his wife was home; the video was later given to police. Gates said he found the handwritten note after his wife moved out in August 2025. Police searches of the home reportedly uncovered syringes, liquid droppers, a scale and gloves, and the suit alleges her Amazon history showed searches for syringes.
OpenAI response
An OpenAI spokesperson said safety is a top priority and that Harris Gates was banned from the platform. The company said it works with mental health experts to help ChatGPT recognize signs of distress and to expand access to localized crisis resources and hotlines. Gates told USA Today that he is separated from his wife and has temporary custody of their children.
