OpenAI reported a user's murder threat; former Goldman analyst pleads guilty, gets probation

A 25-year-old Florida man, Darren Zhou, was reported to the FBI by OpenAI after he detailed plans to rape and kill his ex-girlfriend in chats with ChatGPT. Zhou, a former Goldman Sachs analyst, had been using ChatGPT since March to vent about the breakup, but his messages escalated into specific threats. OpenAI's policy allows reviewing interactions if users may harm others and alerting law enforcement. Police ensured the woman's safety and arrested Zhou in May. He faced three felony charges, including aggravated stalking and written death threats, with up to 25 years in prison. On August 13, Zhou pleaded guilty and received 8 years of probation without a felony record, under several restrictions. This case highlights AI platforms' emerging role in preventing violent crimes.