Man found a note in his kitchen. Now he’s suing OpenAI over what ChatGPT allegedly told his wife

You keep seeing stories about what people ask ChatGPT. Some people ask for advice on exams; some ask for suggestions to solve their relationship issues. Many people depend heavily on ChatGPT and talk to it all day. From happy moments to bad ones, AI becomes their best friend. Many keep taking tips about things which they can’t discuss with others or are ashamed or embarrassed about, but sometimes these discussions may lead to something dangerous and even result in crime.

An incident related to how ChatGPT could be involved in our lives has emerged, and this time it was dangerous.

The note was tucked inside a notepad, James Gates told USA Today. He picked up the notepad from the kitchen counter and the note slipped from it. He was shocked to see what was on it. To make sense of it, he read the note twice and still couldn’t believe his eyes. Gates says he believed the page described how his wife planned to kill him and cover her tracks. More than a year later, the Charlotte, North Carolina, resident is suing OpenAI over the role he claims ChatGPT played. The criminal case against his estranged wife, Cheryl Gates, ended without a conviction. No charges remain against her.

What does James Gates allege ChatGPT did?

Gates alleges ChatGPT helped his wife develop a plan over several months to poison him by tampering with his sodas and energy drinks. The complaint says the chatbot encouraged the plan and gave advice on how to conceal it. Gates filed the civil lawsuit in San Francisco Superior Court. Gates has said in his statement that OpenAI is negligent in the way it designed ChatGPT. Blaming OpenAI for the incident for giving such suggestions to his wife, he is seeking an unspecified amount in damages for harm he says he suffered.

The case raises two separate questions: what the chatbot allegedly said and what happened outside the conversation. Chat records could show what was discussed. They would not, by themselves, establish that anyone acted on the advice or that Gates was poisoned.

How did the note become part of the case?

Gates told USA Today that he and his wife had spent about a decade building a life together in Charlotte. He worked in cybersecurity. They were raising two young children. He said their relationship came under strain in early 2025 after he asked her to return to work to help with household expenses. Even as they discussed separating, he said he hoped they could get through it.

Gates said his wife moved out with their children in August 2025. She came back two days later to collect her belongings. He says she left behind the notepad that held the folded page. Cheryl Gates declined to comment through her attorney, Jennifer Tosi, who also declined to comment to USA Today.

Why were the charges against Cheryl Gates dropped?

Cheryl Gates was indicted in October 2025 after a police investigation. Prosecutors dropped the attempted murder and food contamination charges in April 2026, citing insufficient evidence. There are no remaining charges against her, USA Today reported.

The civil complaint names OpenAI as the defendant. It seeks compensation for harm James Gates says he suffered and puts the company’s product design at issue. The allegations in that complaint remain unproven.

What did OpenAI say about the ChatGPT lawsuit?

OpenAI told USA Today it had banned the user and provided information to law enforcement as part of the investigation. The company said safety was a priority. Its statement did not address the specific responses described in Gates’ complaint.

FAQs

Who filed the lawsuit against OpenAI?

James Gates, a North Carolina resident, filed the complaint in San Francisco Superior Court.

Is Cheryl Gates still facing criminal charges?

No. Prosecutors dropped the charges in April 2026 after citing insufficient evidence.