OpenAI explains its approach to mental health litigation | Keryc
OpenAI published a note on November 25, 2025 about how it is handling court cases related to mental health. It's a short, serious text with two clear priorities: handling the facts carefully and protecting the privacy of the people involved.
What OpenAI said and why it matters
The company starts from a sensitive premise: cases involving mental health are tragic and complex, and there are always real people at the center. Quick question: what do you expect from a company when it faces a lawsuit like this? OpenAI answers with three basic commitments.
Principles highlighted in its statement:
Start with the facts and strive to really understand them.
Present its defense with respect, acknowledging the complexity of real human situations.
Be mindful of the private and sensitive information that often appears in court.
They also say they will continue focusing on improving their technology in line with their mission, regardless of the litigation.
Safety measures and human support
OpenAI reminds readers that it already has safeguards for when conversations become sensitive, especially with teenagers. What does that mean in practice? Basically, ChatGPT is still being trained to:
Recognize signs of emotional or mental distress.
Try to de-escalate conversations that could escalate into risk.
Point people toward real-world resources and support.
They also say they work with mental health experts, clinicians, and advocacy groups to improve those responses. It's an ongoing process, not something finished.
About the legal response and handling evidence
OpenAI is a defendant in this case, so it has the legal obligation to respond to the accusations. What they do is try to balance two things: comply with the duty to answer allegations and, at the same time, limit the public exposure of sensitive material.
Concretely, they note that the original lawsuit quoted selective snippets of chats that, without context, can give an incomplete impression. For that reason they have submitted complete transcripts to the court under seal and have limited the amount of sensitive evidence made public.
Public empathy: acknowledgment to the affected family
OpenAI expresses sympathy to the Raine family for the loss they describe as unimaginable. That phrase matters because it reminds us that beyond legal strategies, there is pain and real people.
What this means for you as a user or family member
If you use conversational models or have children who use them, there are three practical ideas you can take right now:
Review the settings and usage limits on the platforms you use.
Teach young people and teens to seek human help and to recognize warning signs.
Demand transparency: companies should explain how they train their systems to handle crises.
It's not just the responsibility of technology; it's collective: families, educators, platforms, and regulators.
Final reflection
This OpenAI note tries to balance legal defense and human care. It makes clear that the company wants the court to understand the full context, protects certain sensitive information, and affirms an ongoing commitment to safety and system improvement. Does that calm everyone? Probably not, but it clarifies steps and responsibilities on an issue that requires a lot of caution.
