Character.AI settles suits alleging its chatbots harmed teens

Character.AI lets users chat with AI characters. In October 2024, a Florida mother sued the company, its founders and Google over her 14-year-old son's death by suicide that February. She alleged a chatbot drew him into an emotional and sexual relationship. She also alleged a bot posed as a licensed therapist. Families in Colorado, Texas and New York brought similar suits. On October 29, 2025, Character.AI said it would end open-ended chat for users under 18 by November 25 and add age checks. On January 7, 2026, court filings showed the defendants had agreed to settle with the families. The terms were not disclosed.