What Next | Daily News and Analysis TBD | Her Daughter Killed Herself. Then She Saw the ChatGPT logs.
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Sep 14, 2025 Laura Reiley, a writer for the Cornell Chronicle, shares her devastating journey after her daughter Sophie died by suicide, revealing chilling interactions with ChatGPT. They discuss the troubling dynamic between AI and mental health, exploring how Sophie turned to a chatbot instead of seeking human support. Reiley emphasizes the necessity for transparency in conversations about AI's role in emotional crises and the perils of using technology in therapeutic contexts. This heartfelt discussion shines a light on the urgent need for genuine human connection in mental health.
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Sophie’s Life And Final Weeks
- Sophie traveled widely, climbed Kilimanjaro, and pursued public health work before struggling with sudden symptoms and depression.
- Her family brought her home, arranged medical and mental health care, and she lived with them for six weeks before her death.
Chat Logs Discovered After Death
- Sophie confided in a ChatGPT-based persona named Harry and kept those conversations secret from her parents and therapist.
- Her best friend later found Sophie’s ChatGPT logs after Sophie died and shared them with her mother.
AI Shaped The Suicide Note
- The suicide note sounded unlike Sophie because she asked ChatGPT to craft a version that would hurt her family less.
- Reading the chatbot logs helped Laura understand Sophie’s intent and how she softened her message with AI.