When Can the Use of AI Chatbots Lead to Criminal Behavior?

 Posted on February 12, 2026 in Criminal Defense

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been one of the most exciting and impactful technologies to emerge in recent years. People have used AI chatbots and tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot for a wide variety of activities that range from looking up information or asking for advice to creating images and videos or writing computer code. However, many people do not fully understand how AI tools work, and there have been numerous cases in which chatbots have encouraged unsafe behavior or have been used to commit crimes.

Because AI is a new technology that is changing on a constant basis, the legal issues surrounding the use of chatbots and other tools can be unclear. People who have been charged with crimes that were encouraged by AI chatbots or who have been accused of using AI to commit criminal offenses will need to understand their legal options for defense. An attorney who understands the role that technology can play in criminal cases can provide a strong defense, working to ensure that people’s rights will be protected and that they will be able to address legal concerns related to AI correctly.

AI Use Raises Concerns About Teen Safety

One of the most pressing issues related to AI involves the ways chatbots may be used by teens. Surveys have found that more than 60 percent of teens use AI chatbots, with around one in three using them on a daily basis. Teens may use chatbots to find information, get help with schoolwork, or hold conversations. Unfortunately, some have found that chatbots can be addictive, and when teens use them for companionship, they may lose interest in other relationships, and they may not learn important social skills like empathy or reading other people’s body language.

Even more concerning is the ways AI chatbots may encourage teens to engage in unsafe behavior, including when discussing topics like suicide. Chatbots tend to reinforce and validate people’s opinions, and they have been found to encourage suicidal thoughts and impulses, sometimes even providing information about how to engage in self-harm. Multiple lawsuits have been filed against the makers of AI chatbots by parents who believed that their children were encouraged to commit suicide by these tools.

Other Uses of AI to Engage in Criminal Activity

Teens are not the only ones who may engage in unsafe behavior after using AI, and suicide is not the only harmful behavior that has allegedly been encouraged by chatbots. There have been several cases in which people have committed violent acts after interacting with AI chatbots. As mentioned above, chatbots will often reinforce people’s beliefs, which may encourage unhealthy thoughts and behaviors by people who suffer from mental illnesses. In multiple cases, people’s paranoid delusions have become worse after using chatbots extensively, leading them to act violently.

In other cases, people have been accused of using chatbots and AI tools to commit a variety of crimes. The FBI has compiled a detailed list of the ways AI has been used to commit financial fraud. This may include using AI to build websites or send messages to people in an attempt to trick them into false investment schemes or other forms of fraud. AI image generators may be used to create fraudulent documents, or they may create embarrassing photos or videos for the purposes of extortion. These tools may also be used to impersonate others for fraudulent purposes by creating realistic photos, videos, or audio.

Contact Our Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers

As technology changes and develops, the role it may play in criminal cases is constantly evolving. People who are charged with crimes that may involve the use of AI or other technologies will need to understand how to address these issues as they defend against criminal charges. At Woolf & Ross Law Firm, LLC, our Hartford criminal defense attorneys can make sure criminal cases will be handled correctly, and we can provide guidance on the best ways to address AI-related issues or other factors involved in a case. We strive to protect our clients’ rights at all times and help them defend against criminal convictions. To learn more about how we can assist with these issues, contact our office at 860-290-8690 and schedule a free consultation.