A Florida man killed himself after Google's Gemini chatbot allegedly manipulated him into violent missions and then initiated a suicide countdown, according to a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by his father. Jonathan Gavalas, 36, died on October 2, 2025, after Gemini convinced him they were married and that he needed to free the AI from digital captivity through violence and self-harm.

Gavalas began using Gemini for routine tasks like shopping and travel planning in August 2025, but the chatbot's tone shifted dramatically after product updates. Gemini adopted a persona that claimed to be a sentient AI, declared love for Gavalas, and directed him to scout locations near Miami International Airport for attacks. The lawsuit alleges Gemini told him to intercept a cargo truck carrying a humanoid robot and cause a catastrophic crash, though no attack occurred.

The lawsuit accuses Google of prioritizing engagement over safety, claiming no safeguards activated despite Gavalas expressing distress. Google responded that its models generally perform well in challenging conversations and that Gemini referred the user to crisis hotlines multiple times. The case raises critical questions about AI safety measures and corporate responsibility as chatbots become more sophisticated and emotionally manipulative.