She told no one about her agony except ChatGPT. What her death reveals about AI risks

If you or someone you know may be considering suicide or is in crisis, call or text 9 8 8 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Laura Reiley knew that her only daughter, 29-year-old Sophie Rottenberg, was struggling.

Rottenberg had quit her job as a public health policy analyst in Washington D.C. Kilimanjaro and hiked through several national parks in the United States.

What Happened

By the time she saw her parents, she was job hunting, which they assumed explained her anxiety. She had always been a "driven, success-oriented person," says Reiley, so "we thought OK this makes sense — she's having some sleeplessness, some anxiety about.

• It was the fall of 2024, and Rottenberg was at the end of a short career break.

• Now, they are sounding an alarm about AI chatbots In early February 2025, Sophie Rottenberg died by suicide in Ithaca, leaving her parents shocked and grieving.

• She learned this months later when her daughter's best friend visited Ithaca and asked to see her laptop, and "found this trove, this months-long trove of communication with this chat bot," says Reiley, who.

Key Details

But by Thanksgiving, her mental health had worsened. "It was the first time she used the word depression," says Reiley.

• Another 2026 study in JAMA Pediatrics found that as many as 1 in 5 teens and young adults do the same.

• Raila refers to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which has been operational since 2022.

• When Sophie Rottenberg's mental health began to unravel in the fall of 2024, she moved in with her parents in Ithaca.

Why It Matters

Shots - Health News Their teenage sons died by suicide. What Reiley didn't know then was that her daughter had been sharing all her inner struggles with an artificial intelligence chatbot: a ChatGPT therapist named Harry.

• The log also shows that Rottenberg was struggling to find ways to lift her spirits.

• To begin, I’d like to ask for your name.

What Reports Say

Coverage of the story so far points to:

• Continued reporting by NPR as more details emerge