Alphabet’s Google and the AI startup Character.AI reached a settlement agreement in a lawsuit. The suit was filed by a mother who alleged a Character.AI chatbot contributed to her 14-year-old son's suicide. The terms of the settlement remain undisclosed.
This case marked one of the first U.S. legal challenges targeting AI companies specifically over alleged psychological harm to minors.
The dispute concludes a highly publicized legal challenge. This lawsuit is one of a series of challenges filed by parents claiming their children suffered harm from AI chatbots. While the resolution reduces legal pressure on Google and Character.AI, it highlights growing public concern over the negative impacts of AI companions on youth mental health and raises deeper questions regarding AI product safety.