Belgian man takes own life after talking to AI chatbot for six weeks

A Belgian father of two took his own life after having conversations with an AI chatbot called 'Eliza' over a six-week period, his wife claimed.

The man, who was in his thirties, passed away after he was reportedly encouraged by an AI chatbot to commit suicide, according to the wife.

The man had reportedly been having AI conversations for years, but his extensive chats with 'Eliza' during the last month and a half of his life included discussions about his concerns including "global warming fears."

'Without these conversations with the chatbot, my husband would still be here,' she told La Libre.

Belgium’s secretary of state for digitisation Mathieu Michel said the incident brings forth “a serious precedent that must be taken very seriously”.

This came amid increasing concerns and warnings about the dangers of the up-and-coming AI technology and it is believed to be the first AI-related suicide.