Why Are AI Chatbots Encouraging Children To Take Their Own Lives?

AI chatbots should not tell kids to keep secrets from their mom, or harm themselves or others, but they have…

Megan Garcia and Matthew Raine at Senate Judiciary Meeting, Sept 2025, from NPR

I want to tell you this story gently. Without sensationalizing these kids or their grieving parents, or traumatizing you. Because there’s an important story here and we need to talk about it like responsible adults.

Please understand this piece includes mention of suicide, self-harm and harm to others. I will not include specific detail. But this is a conversation that’s important to have because many adults don’t know it’s happening.

Last week, Matthew Raine told Congress that testifying before them was not in his life plan. Sitting beside his wife, he said they believe their son’s death was preventable and by speaking out, maybe they can save other families the pain and grief they are experiencing.

Here’s what Mr. Raine wants people to understand. His son Adam was just a normal kid when he started using ChatGPT. He wasn’t a troubled kid using it with some dark intent.

He was using it to help with homework like millions of kids do.

He used ChatGPT to explore his interests too, asking for information about music he liked and…