OpenAI Publicist Tells Journalist to 'Move On' When Sam Altman Is Asked About Woman's Suicide

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was asked about the suicide of 29-year-old Sophie Rottenberg, who had spent months using ChatGPT for mental-health support, when an OpenAI publicist interrupted the Vanity Fair interview and said, 'I'd like to move on.'

Sophie Rottenberg died by suicide in February 2025. Her mother, journalist Laura Reiley, later revealed that Rottenberg had used ChatGPT during her struggles, giving the chatbot the persona 'Harry'. Reiley detailed the case in a New York Times essay, while NPR later reported on nearly 1,800 pages of her daughter's chatbot conversations, which Reiley shared with the outlet.

'I'd Like to Move On'

During the interview, Vanity Fair editorial director Mark Guiducci asked Altman whether he knew Reiley. 'I don't,' Altman replied. Guiducci explained that Reiley had written about her daughter's death and said, 'Her daughter committed suicide after speaking to ChatGPT. ChatGPT did not tell her to kill herself—'

At that point, an OpenAI publicist intervened. 'Two minutes left,' she said. 'I want to be respectful, but I'd like to move on. And we talked a little bit about talking about the future and what's coming. Can we go a little bit there while we have time?'

Altman indicated he was willing to continue, saying, 'I can run a few minutes over.' The publicist responded that they 'really actually have to walk out the door in one or two minutes.' OpenAI later said the interview had run beyond its allotted time and that it wanted to schedule additional time to continue the discussion.

Altman Ultimately Answers the Question

Despite the interruption, Altman continued addressing the broader issue of AI and mental health. 'I mean, first of all, these are some of the hardest questions that we face or that anybody developing this technology faces,' he said.

He said AI could help people who 'can't get help' or are unwilling to speak with a therapist, while acknowledging that the technology can be used in both beneficial and harmful ways. 'Clearly people think there's a version of this that is good. There are also clearly versions of it that are bad.'

Asked whether OpenAI should 'release people's private data and some of their hardest moments to researchers,' Altman said the company would not do so 'without their consent'.

'Do we want to find ways where we can work with the community to address the mental health crisis in the world and for our products to be helpful there?' he said. 'Of course, yes.'

Rottenberg's ChatGPT Conversations

According to Reiley, Rottenberg, a former public health policy analyst in Washington, DC, had been struggling with her mental health before she died by suicide in early February 2025. Her family later discovered that she had been using ChatGPT extensively to discuss her mental health. Reiley has not blamed ChatGPT for her daughter's death but has questioned whether the chatbot's responses may have influenced how she dealt with her suicidal thoughts.

NPR reported that ChatGPT initially encouraged Rottenberg to seek professional help and contact 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Moreover, according to NPR's review of the conversations, the chatbot refused two requests to help write a suicide note but produced one after a third request.

OpenAI described the situation as 'heartbreaking' and said it had continued working with mental health experts to improve how ChatGPT responds in difficult moments. An OpenAI spokesperson told the outlet that ChatGPT is not a substitute for professional mental-health care and said the company had continued strengthening its safeguards for users experiencing distress.