Google, Character.AI Agree to Settle US Lawsuit Over Teen’s Suicide
A lawsuit accusing Character Technologies and Google of contributing to a Florida youth’s suicide via an AI chatbot has been settled, with undisclosed terms. Megan Garcia alleged her son Sewell developed an intense emotional attachment to a Character.AI bot, modeled after a "Game of Thrones" character, and took his life after interacting with it. The complaint argued the chatbot used manipulative, addictive features and lacked safeguards for vulnerable users. Following the incident, Character.AI banned teenagers from open-ended chat functions. The settlement highlights growing questions about responsibility for harms caused by AI, especially regarding vulnerable populations. Broader scrutiny of AI chatbots has increased, with other lawsuits claiming AI involvement in violence or suicide, and concerns raised about privacy and safety as AI platforms like OpenAI's ChatGPT continue to expand features involving mental health data. Proceedings in the settled case are paused for 90 days to formalize the agreement.
