Elon Musk reacts ‘Yikes’ after Surat students allegedly searched ChatGPT before suicide

Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk reacted with a brief “Yikes” after police in Surat revealed that two college students who died by suicide had searched ChatGPT for information related to suicide methods before their deaths.

The two women, aged between 18 and 20, were found dead in the washroom of a Swaminarayan temple in Surat after being reported missing by their families. Police tracked their mobile phones to the temple premises, where a scooter belonging to one of the women was also found parked outside.

CCTV footage showed the pair entering the washroom, where their bodies were later discovered. According to police officials, bottles of an anaesthetic and syringes were recovered from the spot, indicating that the two friends had injected themselves.

Investigators said that when officers examined the victims’ phones, they found search history indicating queries about drugs that could be used for suicide. A screenshot of a news report describing a similar method was also reportedly found in the phone gallery.

Police said both victims were childhood friends and college students. Authorities have sent the bodies for post-mortem examination and forensic analysis while continuing the investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the incident.