A tragic case in California has brought renewed attention to the risks of using artificial intelligence. The parents of a 16-year-old boy, Adam Raine, filed a lawsuit in San Francisco against OpenAI, alleging that ChatGPT provided harmful information that encouraged his suicide. According to the complaint, the chatbot not only suggested possible methods but also offered to help draft a suicide note. The teenager died in April 2025, after which his parents accused the company of negligence and product liability.
That September, in response to growing public concerns, OpenAI announced plans to roll out parental controls. These new tools would allow families to link accounts, set age-appropriate model behavior rules (on by default), manage features like memory and chat history, and receive alerts if the system detects signs of acute emotional distress.
The lawsuit coincides with new studies raising broader concerns about how AI systems handle suicide-related questions. Research led by Northeastern University found that while most large language models refuse to directly provide methods of self-harm, users can bypass safeguards by presenting questions as academic research or hypothetical scenarios, sometimes receiving detailed instructions in return.
Photo: AdobeStock 照片：AdobeStock
A separate study from the RAND Corporation reported that chatbots generally perform well in identifying very high-risk or very low-risk prompts, but their responses tend to be inconsistent in moderate-risk situations—cases where distress is real but less obvious.
Together, these findings suggest that current safeguards are far from foolproof. As policymakers, educators, and families confront these issues, the debate underscores a pressing question: How can society balance the benefits of AI with the urgent responsibility to protect vulnerable users?
一宗發生在加州的悲劇案例，再度引發外界對人工智慧使用風險的關注。十六歲少年亞當．雷恩的父母，於舊金山對 OpenAI 提起訴訟，指控 ChatGPT 提供了有害資訊，促使兒子走上自殺一途。根據訴狀內容，該聊天機器人不僅建議了可能的自殺方法，甚至還主動提出要協助撰寫遺書。這名青少年於 2025 年四月身亡，其父母隨後控告該公司存在疏失與產品責任問題。
同年九月，為了回應日益高漲的社會疑慮，OpenAI宣布推出家長監控功能的計畫。這些新工具可讓家庭成員互相連結帳號、設定適合其年齡的模型行為規範（預設開啟）、管理記憶與聊天紀錄等功能，並在系統偵測到嚴重的情緒困擾徵兆時收到警示通知。
這起訴訟正好與一些新研究同時出現，而這些研究針對人工智慧系統如何處理自殺相關問題提出了更廣泛的疑慮。由東北大學主導的研究發現，雖然大多數大型語言模型會拒絕直接提供自我傷害的方法，但使用者若將問題包裝成學術研究或假設性情境，仍能繞過防護機制，有時還能得到詳細的指示。
蘭德公司的一項獨立研究報告指出，聊天機器人通常在辨識極高風險或極低風險的提示時表現良好，但當遇到中度風險的情況—即痛苦真實存在但較不明顯的個案時—它們的回應往往不一致。
綜合來看，這些發現顯示目前的防護機制遠非萬無一失。當政策制定者、教育工作者和家庭面對這些議題時，這場爭論凸顯了一個迫切的問題：社會該如何在享受人工智慧帶來益處的同時，也肩負起保護脆弱使用者的緊急責任？
What Did You Learn?
1. On what grounds did Adam Raine’s parents take legal action against the AI company?
2. According to researchers, how do some users trick AI into giving harmful information?
參考答案:
1. Negligence and product liability.
2. By presenting questions as academic research or hypothetical scenarios.
*如果你或你認識的人正面臨困境，可以撥打臺灣安心專線1925尋求協助。
Words in Use
1. allege vt. 指控，宣稱
The journalist alleged that the mayor accepted bribes from local businesses.
這名記者指控市長收受當地企業的賄賂。
2. complaint n. 訴狀
The lawyer submitted a complaint to the court on behalf of his client.
這位律師代表當事人向法院提交了一份訴狀。
3. draft vt. 擬定∕起草（文件、計畫等）
I drafted a proposal for the new library project.
我擬定了一份新圖書館計畫的提案。
4. liability n. （法律）責任；麻煩，累贅
The recall was issued to minimize the risk of product liability.
這次的產品回收是為了將產品責任風險降到最低。
Frank’s reckless behavior has become a liability to our team.
法蘭克魯莽的行為已經成了我們團隊的負擔。
5. default n.（電腦等）系統預設∕默認狀態
The software settings will return to default if you reset the system.
如果你重設系統，軟體設定會回到預設值。
Practical Phrases
1. file a lawsuit against. . . 對……提起訴訟
lawsuit n. 訴訟；官司
The musician filed a lawsuit against the producer.
這位音樂人對製作人提起訴訟。
2. in response to. . . 為回應……
response n. 回應
In response to parents’ requests, the school organized extra classes.
為回應家長們的要求，學校安排了額外課程。
3. roll out. . . / roll. . . out 推出……（產品等）
The tech company rolled out a new smartphone last month.
這家科技公司上個月推出了一款新的智慧型手機。
4. coincide with. . . 與……同時發生
coincide vi. 同時發生
The concert will coincide with Emma’s birthday party.
那場音樂會恰逢艾瑪的生日派對。
聽文章朗讀及講解: https://ivy.pse.is/455bfu
本文出自常春藤解析英語雜誌: www.ivy.com.tw
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