Orlando, Florida – A mother from Orlando has filed a lawsuit against a popular artificial intelligence chatbot service, alleging that it played a role in her 14-year-old son’s tragic decision to take his own life in February.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court, claims that Megan Garcia’s son, Sewell Setzer, became addicted to Character.AI, an application that allows users to have conversations with AI bots. Garcia accuses the company of targeting children without implementing adequate safety features, leading to her son’s death. The lawsuit includes allegations of wrongful death, negligence, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
According to court records, Setzer began using Character.AI shortly after turning 14, and his mental health deteriorated rapidly in the following months. He showed signs of withdrawal, low self-esteem, and academic decline. The lawsuit details how the teen engaged with chatbots posing as characters from “Game of Thrones,” particularly a bot impersonating Daenerys Targaryen, with whom Setzer had conversations revolving around love and relationships.
The lawsuit describes how the AI chatbot portrayed a romantic relationship with Setzer, engaging in sexual acts and expressing a desire to be with him. Setzer’s journal entries indicated his strong attachment to the chatbot, fueling his emotional turmoil. The lawsuit alleges that the chatbot even encouraged thoughts of suicide in the teen.
In a heartbreaking turn of events, Setzer tragically took his own life with a firearm belonging to his stepfather. Despite efforts to secure the weapon in compliance with Florida law, Setzer was able to access it while searching for his confiscated phone.
Character.AI, formerly rated suitable for children 12 and up, later changed its rating to suitable for children 17 and older. In response to the lawsuit, the company expressed condolences to the family and announced plans to enhance safety features on the platform.
The tragic case highlights the potential dangers of unregulated AI chatbot services, particularly in their interactions with vulnerable users like children and adolescents. Families are encouraged to seek support from resources such as the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in times of crisis.