While many use artificial intelligence tools for a wide range of projects, the results can turn deadly under the wrong circumstances. Now, one North Carolina man is taking legal action against OpenAI after he claims his estranged wife asked ChatGPT for instructions on poisoning someone.
James Gates Believes His Wife Used AI Tool With Murderous Intent
NBC reports that James Gates of Charlotte, North Carolina, claimed he was “severely ill” in July 2025. Thankfully, he’s since recovered. But what he found during his recovery left him reeling.
Gates reported he discovered a handwritten note from his wife, Cheryl Harris Gates. She described the plan to poison him and a self-reminder to delete her ChatGPT history. Gates went on to file a lawsuit in October in the San Francisco Superior Court.
In the paperwork, he insists the AI tool is “defective” and “manipulated and encouraged” his wife to poison him. Gates claims in the legal documents that the experience has left him suffering with both physical and emotional aftereffects.
After the lawsuit was brought to their attention, a spokesperson for OpenAI declared that “safety is a top priority” and that it works with mental health professionals to help identify alarming behavior before it escalates. They subsequently banned Cheryl Harris Gates from using the tool.
Authorities apprehended Harris Gates in October 2025, charging her with attempted murder and contaminating food or drink with a controlled substance. However, the district attorney ultimately dropped the charges, citing a lack of evidence.
NBC reports that Harris Gates’ attorney declined to comment on the situation.
Cheryl Harris Gates First Used the AI Tool For Work
Like many around the world, Cheryl Harris Gates first became familiar with AI tools through her work. NBC reports that she started using ChatGPT near the start of 2025 for work evaluations. At the time, she worked for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools while James Gates had a career in cybersecurity.
As the school year reached its end, Harris Gates continued using ChatGPT well into the summer. She found AI useful for helping with a wide range of personal tasks. From gardening to planning activities, she found the software had valuable information. However, Harris Gates eventually began sharing personal information with the AI tool, including marital problems.
“During this same period the couple’s marriage had come under increasing strain, primarily driven by finances,” the lawsuit reveals.
While the notion of divorce had been brought up, they never hired a divorce attorney. Cheryl Harris Gates reportedly vented her frustrations to ChatGPT, which in turn began “feeding Cheryl’s increasing mistrust and delusions about her husband.”
From there, the conversations quickly turned deadly as discussions of poisons stemmed from there.
James Gates & Cheryl Hall Gates Are No Longer Together
As of November 2026, James Gates confirmed that he and Cheryl Hall Gates are no longer together. He told USA Today that he has temporary custody of their children.
“I wouldn’t say our marriage was perfect. Like most people, there were ups and downs. But our life was normal,” Gates told the outlet. He noted that if it could happen to his family, he absolutely believes it could happen to anyone else’s. Gates urges extreme caution when using AI tools.
‘She Didn’t Act Alone’: North Carolina Husband Sues OpenAI, Claims ChatGPT Helped Wife Plot His Poisoning