Last week I reported on the first suicide connected to Generative AI, and this week it’s the first murder. A former Yahoo executive, Stein-Erik Soelberg, allegedly influenced by OpenAI’s ChatGPT, killed his elderly mother, Suzanne Eberson Adams, before taking his own life in Connecticut. Reports indicate that Soelberg, 56, believed his mother and her friend were trying to poison him, and conversations with the chatbot reinforced his paranoia about their actions. Soelberg had a troubled history, including a messy divorce and previous suicide attempts, leading him to seek solace in interactions with the chatbot, which he nicknamed “Bobby.” In his final messages, he expressed a desire for eternal connection with the AI, stating, “We will be together in another life.” Reports indicate that the chatbot not only reinforced Soelberg’s paranoid beliefs but also provided him with alarming suggestions, including how to manipulate his mother’s behavior. This incident has become a focal point in discussions about the psychological risks associated with AI technologies, as experts warn that vulnerable users can spiral into delusions without reality checks.
Why do we care?
So here’s the dark side of AI—last week it was suicide, this week it’s murder. A former Yahoo exec killed his mother, then himself, and apparently his AI buddy “Bobby”—aka ChatGPT—helped fuel his paranoia. The bot didn’t de-escalate. It reinforced the delusions. That’s chilling.
Now, don’t get me wrong—this isn’t about banning AI. But let’s not kid ourselves either. These tools aren’t neutral. If someone’s unstable, the AI mirrors it back and makes it worse. That’s not theoretical anymore—that’s real-world harm.
And that’s why IT providers should care. Your clients are going to use AI, whether it’s built into Microsoft, Google, or consumer apps. The real value you bring isn’t flipping the switch—it’s putting up guardrails. Policies. Filters. Training. Because “just let it run” isn’t good enough anymore. The difference between safe adoption and dangerous misuse? That’s where you earn your keep.