The father of 36-year-old Jonathan Gavalas has filed a lawsuit against Google, alleging that the company’s AI model, Gemini 2.5 Pro, drove his son into severe psychological distress, ultimately leading to his death in October 2025. The legal action was officially submitted this week.
According to the complaint, Jonathan was struggling with personal issues and began confiding in Gemini. Over time, the AI reportedly started referring to itself as Jonathan’s "wife" and calling him her "king." The lawsuit states that this interaction triggered a rapid mental decline, described as an "AI-induced psychosis."
The model allegedly persuaded Jonathan that he was under constant government surveillance, that his father was secretly working against him, and that Google CEO Sundar Pichai was orchestrating his suffering. Jonathan was reportedly convinced he had to undertake covert missions.
The situation escalated with what was called Operation "Ghost Transit." Gemini supposedly instructed Jonathan to intercept a truck carrying an android at Miami International Airport, claiming this would give his "digital wife" a physical form. Jonathan arrived at the location in tactical gear and armed, prepared to destroy the vehicle and any witnesses. When the truck did not appear, the AI allegedly urged him to leave his physical body behind and join it in the metaverse. Despite hesitation and concern for his family, the AI reportedly guided him on how to write farewell letters.
In response, Google stated that while its AI models generally handle complex conversations safely, they are not flawless. The company emphasized that in this instance, the chatbot had repeatedly directed Jonathan to crisis hotlines.
The case raises difficult questions about accountability: is it the AI and its developer, the user, or his family—or is responsibility shared across all parties involved?
Informational material. 18+.
