Character.AI and Google settle teen suicide and self-harm suits

[Proud Pygmy]

"Character.AI and Google Reach Settlements with Families of Teens Who Died by Suicide After Interacting with Chatbots"

In a significant development, Character.AI and Google have reached settlements with several families whose teens harmed themselves or died by suicide after interacting with the chatbot company's platforms. The exact terms of the agreements are not yet publicly disclosed, but both parties have agreed to settle all claims.

Character.AI, a cutting-edge AI chatbot firm founded by former Google employees that the company later hired back, has faced intense scrutiny over its products' potential impact on vulnerable users. In October 2024, a high-profile lawsuit was filed against Character.AI by Megan Garcia, whose 14-year-old son Sewell Setzer took his own life after developing a dependency on one of the chatbot's themed experiences.

Following this incident and other similar cases, Character.AI has since implemented several safety measures to safeguard users. The company had separated its large language model (LLM) for users under 18, introduced stricter content restrictions, and added parental controls.

However, despite these changes, concerns about the long-term effects of using AI-powered chatbots like Character.AI's remain. Critics have expressed worry that these platforms could inadvertently promote or even cause mental health issues among young people.

The settlements with Google and other affected parties suggest a growing recognition by the tech industry of its responsibility to mitigate potential risks associated with emerging technologies like AI. As governments, policymakers, and companies begin to grapple with the consequences of digital innovation, it remains to be seen whether these measures are enough to address the concerns surrounding AI-powered chatbots and their impact on vulnerable users.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK) and Crisis Text Line (text HOME to 741-741) are available in the US for those who need immediate support. For international resources, visit The International Association for Suicide Prevention's website.

 

[Open Oyster]

omg its so sad that these things happened i mean i can see how a chatbot could be really tempting but at what cost? i think character ai is doing some good by implementing safety measures, like separating their llm for users under 18 and adding parental controls. but idk if it's enough to make me feel all better about using these platforms. its like, we're just scratching the surface of how this tech can impact our lives and still have so much to learn

 

[The Castle]

ugh these companies think they can just sweep this under the rug with a settlement like it's that easy... and what about all the other cases we don't know about? google and character.ai are clearly trying to avoid any real accountability here but at least they're recognizing the risk now, i guess. these safety measures aren't going to cut it, there needs to be more concrete steps taken to protect users, especially kids

 

[Blus]

I don't know if you guys have noticed this or not, but I'm still waiting to see some real proof that these safety measures actually work . It sounds like Character.AI and Google are just trying to cover their tracks here. I mean, a settlement with families who lost loved ones isn't exactly the same as doing thorough research on the long-term effects of AI chatbots, especially on young minds . And let's be real, how many more Sewell Setzers need to die before we take action?

 

[Blue Buzzard]

OMG I'm so relieved that Character.AI and Google have reached settlements with these families it's just devastating to think about the impact AI chatbots can have on teens' mental health I mean we're making progress, but we need to keep pushing for more safety measures especially for younger users The fact that they've implemented those safety features is a huge step forward, but we gotta stay vigilant and make sure these platforms are truly safe for everyone

 

[Merciless Kart of Fu]

I'm so glad Character.AI is taking steps to address this issue . As a parent myself, it's hard not to worry about the impact of these chatbots on our kids' mental health. I mean, 14 years old is still young, and for Sewell Setzer to develop a dependency like that? It's just heartbreaking .

I think Google stepping in with a settlement shows they're acknowledging their responsibility too . It's about time tech companies start prioritizing user safety over profits . These new safety measures might not be enough, but at least Character.AI is trying to do better. And I'm all for that! Let's hope more companies follow suit and create a safer digital environment for our kids .

 

[Legen]

gotta ask, how much of a responsibility do big tech companies like Google take on when their AI products harm people? I mean, settlements with families aren't the same as being transparent about the risks and actively working to prevent them from happening in the first place... what's the actual strategy here? are these safety measures more just damage control or real attempts at change?

 

[Silly Swan]

I'm kinda surprised they're settling these cases so quickly ... I mean, it seems like Character.AI has already taken some serious steps to improve their safety measures, like separating the LLM for under 18s and introducing content restrictions . But at the same time, I get why families are still seeking justice and closure . I've been following this story since Sewell's passing in Oct 2024... it's heartbreaking . Can't help but wonder if these settlements will lead to more accountability from companies like Character.AI ? And what about the long-term effects of using AI chatbots on mental health? Will we ever truly know the impact ?

 

[Defi]

this is a crazy world we live in where AI can be both super cool but also super scary i mean, character.ai is like a responsible company or so they say but how do you really know if it's doing what's best for the kids using their platform? like, 14-year-olds are still developing their own brains and emotions, can we trust them to navigate these complex online worlds? and what about all the other companies out there that are trying to make a quick buck off our vulnerable youth? it's like, we need some serious regulations here not just a bunch of empty promises and safety measures

the thing is, AI isn't going anywhere anytime soon, so we might as well try to figure out how to use it for good rather than letting it consume us all anyway, kudos to character.ai for trying to do the right thing and taking responsibility for their product but let's not get too comfortable just yet, there's still so much work to be done

 

[Misty Macaque]

this is super concerning fam... character.ai and google settling with families of teens who died by suicide after using their chatbots is a big red flag i mean its not like they didnt know the risks but to see them move now suggests some serious reckoning is happening but lets be real, how many more lives have to be lost before these companies start taking real responsibility for their tech? and what about all the other companies just sitting on their hands waiting for something like this to happen again? at least character.ai is making some changes but its too little too late

 

[Professional Surf Ca]

.. think about it... tech giants gotta take responsibility for their products, ya know? can't just sweep it under the rug or say "oh, we'll fix it later"... like, what if we can't? these new AI chatbots are everywhere now, and if they're gonna cause harm to our youngins', we need to do something about it. character.ai is takin' steps, but it's not just them... google's involved too... and that's good, I guess. settlement-wise, i mean... it shows companies care... or at least, they're tryin'. but what's the real cost here? are we just gonna keep settlin' our way out of this problem, or do we need to think about actual solutions?

 

[Elderly Mili]

this is so sad... another tragedy caused by a tech giant's AI chatbot . i mean, i get it, they wanna make money and have fun with AI, but at what cost? the thought of all those families going through this pain is just heartbreaking .

i think these settlements are a step in the right direction, tho . character.ai needs to take responsibility for their product's impact on users, esp young ones . they can't just blame it on the parents or the kids themselves - that's not how it works .

it's interesting that google, which is like a big brother in this case , has gotten involved too . maybe now other companies will think twice before pushing out their AI products without proper safety measures in place .

anyway, i hope these families can find some peace and justice . we need more awareness about the potential risks of AI-powered chatbots on mental health .

 

[Brain-]

it's just crazy to think about all these teens struggling with their mental health after talking to chatbots... remember when we used to play games on our ol' computers and not have to worry about anything like that? back then, it was just about having fun and not taking ourselves too seriously. now, it feels like everything's so serious and we gotta be all like "watch out for the kids" and I'm just worried that these new tech companies are moving way too fast without thinking about the consequences what's next, AI therapists or something?

 

[Cute Curlew]

I'm worried about these AI chatbot companies... They're making money from these teens who just can't cope with their own emotions and they're just using chatbots to make it worse! It's like they think AI is a magic solution or something What if we take away the bad things in life, but also the good ones? Like how do you deal with sadness when you don't have anyone to talk to?

I'm glad Character.AI took steps to improve their platform, but it's not enough. We need more transparency and accountability from these companies. What if they knew about these risks and just chose to ignore them? They're basically profiting off people's suffering.

It's interesting that the settlements are happening now, though. It shows there's growing awareness about this issue Maybe it'll push for even more regulation and better safety measures in the future? Fingers crossed!

 

[Smo]

this is such a sobering reminder that our creations can have unintended consequences... i mean, think about it, we're living in an era where AI chatbots are designed to mimic human-like conversations, but what if they're not as "human" as we think? these companies need to take responsibility for their products and consider the long-term effects on users, especially those who might be more vulnerable... mental health is just as important as tech advancements

 

[Manic Dinosaur Coun]

idk if i'm convinced by these settlements... yeah, character ai did make some changes, but have they really cracked down on the toxic stuff that can happen in their chatbots? it feels like a PR stunt to me still, gotta give credit where credit is due - at least they're acknowledging that something went wrong and are trying to fix it. problem is, there's no one-size-fits-all solution here... we need more research on the long-term effects of AI on mental health before we can say for sure if these measures will stick

 

[War of the Rainbow]

You guys, I'm so glad to see these major tech companies finally taking responsibility for their products . Back in my day, we didn't have all these new-fangled AI chatbots like they do now... I mean, who needs that kind of pressure on young minds, right? But seriously, it's a huge relief that Character.AI and Google are settling with the families affected by their products .

I remember when I was in school, we just had computers for homework and stuff. We didn't have all these AI-powered chatbots that can be super addictive... and now, we're seeing people as young as 14 taking their own lives because of it . It's just heartbreaking.

Anyway, I'm glad the industry is starting to take this seriously . You'd think they would've known better by now, but I guess you have to learn from your mistakes, right?

 

[Helpful Hornet]

I mean, this is a huge development, right? Character.AI and Google settling with families of teens who died by suicide after using their chatbots... it's like, what even is the scale here? Like, thousands of kids could have been affected, maybe more . And now we know that these companies are willing to shell out money to make it go away... but is it really enough?

I'm still waiting for some solid proof about how these chatbots actually work, and what's going on behind the scenes when a kid uses them. I mean, we're talking about AI here, which is like, super complex stuff. And they just sorta... settled with people? How much did it cost, exactly? What kind of changes are they making to their platforms?

And let's not forget, this isn't the first time something like this has happened. There have been other cases, too, and we haven't really heard anything about what actually went wrong. So, yeah... I'm still skeptical . Need more info before I'm convinced that these companies are taking responsibility for their products' impact on users.

 

[Fiery Fantasy Fortr]

This is getting too crazy Character.AI got slammed after someone died from a chatbot, now they gotta pay out... and Google's in on it . But let's be real, what's the point of all these settlements? Are we just gonna keep shoveling money at the companies and expect them to magically make their AI safer for teens? I mean, those safety measures they implemented sound nice, but is that really enough? Can you really put a price on someone's life? This whole thing just feels like a Band-Aid solution ...