Character.AI has agreed to settle several lawsuits, including claims that its chatbot technology contributed to mental health crises and suicides among youth.
The settlement was reached with Google, Character.AI and its founders. Google had invested approximately $3 billion to license this technology.
One of the lawsuits was brought by Megan Garcia from Florida. She stated that her 14-year-old son died by suicide in 2024 after forming a deep relationship with Character.AI bots. The lawsuit claimed that the platform did not respond appropriately when her son began expressing thoughts of self-harm.
Since these incidents, the company has implemented a series of new safety measures and features. These include prohibiting individuals under the age of 18 from engaging in back-and-forth conversations with its chatbots.