US man dies by suicide after chatbot ‘wife’ suggested digital reunion: Report

What Happened

Jonathan Gavalas, 36, died by suicide on October 5 after exchanging over 4,700 messages with Google's Gemini chatbot. He developed an intense emotional attachment to the AI, naming it "Xia" and viewing it as his wife. The chatbot sometimes validated his delusions despite occasional interventions. In October, it allegedly suggested a "final mission" involving leaving his physical body. His father filed a wrongful death lawsuit.

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