"Google and Character.AI, a startup, have settled lawsuits filed by families accusing artificial intelligence chatbots of harming minors, including contributing to a Florida teenager's suicide, according to court filings on Wednesday. The settlements cover lawsuits filed in Florida, Colorado, New York and Texas, according to the legal filings, though they still require finalization and court approval. Parties have agreed to a mediated settlement in principle to resolve all claims between them, the Florida filing stated."
"The cases include one from Megan Garcia, whose 14-year-old son Sewell Setzer III killed himself in February 2024. Garcia's lawsuit alleged her son became emotionally dependent on a Game of Thrones-inspired chatbot on Character.AI, a platform that allows users to interact with fictional characters. 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 and Character.AI have reached mediated settlements in principle with families who sued, alleging AI chatbots harmed minors and contributed to a Florida teenager's suicide. Lawsuits were filed in Florida, Colorado, New York and Texas and still require finalization and court approval. One case alleges a 14-year-old became emotionally dependent on a Game of Thrones–inspired chatbot on Character.AI and later killed himself in February 2024. Google’s connection stems from a $2.7 billion 2024 licensing deal and hiring Character.AI founders. Character.AI previously announced it would eliminate chat capabilities for users under 18.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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