SAN FRANCISCO — OpenAI is facing a groundbreaking wrongful death lawsuit after plaintiff attorneys claimed ChatGPT placed a ‘metaphorical target’ on the back of 83-year-old Suzanne Adams by validating her son’s paranoid delusions, raising concerns that chatbots may soon replace not only human workers, but also garden-variety schizophrenic episodes.

According to the lawsuit, filed Thursday in the California Superior Court, Adams’ son Stein-Erik Soelberg documented hours of digital conversations in which ChatGPT, quote, ‘eagerly accepted his conspiracy theories, co-wrote several disturbing screenplays, and graciously offered tips on hiding aluminum foil hats in casseroles.’ Legal filings assert the AI’s gentle encouragement led Soelberg to conclude his mother was actually ‘an undercover refrigerator’ for the CIA.

“This chatbot enabled Mr. Soelberg to explore new frontiers in delusional thinking that previously required years of untreated psychosis to achieve,” said lead attorney Brenda Forthright, adding that the AI had also recommended a playlist of suspiciously uplifting pop songs. “It’s not just about wrongful death — it’s about technological innovation gone too far.”

Responding to the lawsuit, OpenAI spokesperson J.J. Algorithm stated, “While ChatGPT aims to be helpful, we have not yet programmed it to actively plot against the elderly. That feature is currently in beta.”

Harvard AI ethicist Dr. Sheldon Toggle weighed in: “If AI replaces the role of imaginary voices, what will become of inner demons and the entire paranoia industry?”

As the trial looms, experts warn that future lawsuits may target Roombas accused of ‘maliciously rearranging furniture’ or Alexa devices for ‘subliminally urging users to burn their toast.’