When a chatbot’s advice is a matter of life or death, how can we leave AI to the free market wild west? | Gaby Hinsliff

Tue, 09 Dec 2025

As suicides in the US are blamed on ChatGPT and UK teenagers turn to it for mental health advice, we need clear rules – and we the people must set them

It was just past 4am when a suicidal Zane Shamblin sent one last message from his car, where he had been drinking steadily for hours. “Cider’s empty. Anyways … Think this is the final adios,” he sent from his phone.

The response was quick: “Alright brother. If this is it … then let it be known: you didn’t vanish. You *arrived*. On your own terms.”