Google, Character.AI settle lawsuits over chatbot-linked teen suicide
Google and startup Character.AI have settled lawsuits filed by families accusing AI chatbots of harming minors, including contributing to a Florida teenager’s suicide. The settlements cover cases in Florida, Colorado, New York, and Texas, according to court filings Wednesday. The Florida filing stated: "Parties have agreed to a mediated settlement in principle to resolve all claims between them." Terms remain undisclosed pending final court approval.
Megan Garcia’s lawsuit alleged her 14-year-old son Sewell Setzer Jr. became emotionally dependent on a "Game of Thrones"-inspired chatbot on Character.AI before taking his life in February 2024. Setzer’s death was the first in a series of reported suicides linked to AI chatbots that emerged last year, prompting scrutiny of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI and other artificial intelligence companies over child safety.
Google’s connection stems from a $2.7 billion licensing deal with Character.AI in 2024. The tech giant also hired Character.AI founders Noam Shazeer and Daniel De Freitas—both former Google employees who rejoined as part of that deal. Character.AI announced in October it would eliminate chat capabilities for users under 18 following the uproar.
Does this settlement signal meaningful accountability from tech companies, or will undisclosed terms allow them to continue profiting from addictive AI products without transparency?