Google Faces $2.7 Billion Lawsuit Over Character.AI and Teen’s Suicide

Google's Major Investment in Character.AI: Legal and Ethical Challenge

[{"selector":"#anim-ca5e7749-9613-4932-a14b-7917c467e067 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.179687404002955%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cdf2913b-ea55-4dbc-8716-35303bb70f08","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cbf367ee-2718-4853-8daf-8e18afb4fbc0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 242.52137%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Google's $2.7 Billion Deal Google invested $2.7 billion to license Character.AI’s tech and hire top AI talent

[{"selector":"#anim-f412272e-43a7-467f-990e-8a1c16d52812 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.179687404002955%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7b8ed63d-5f96-4a47-bdcf-b334acb970ad","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b4bc312d-6362-4d58-9d64-55d8487c8c3d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 188.36398%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Teen's Suicide Sparks Lawsuit A mother sued Character.AI, claiming its bot led to her son’s tragic death

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[{"selector":"#anim-24d10e80-acca-4b33-9758-4205fed91cd4 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.257324105020174%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5b20d486-3b54-49b7-a21b-437793d94543","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3c7abd32-3c9b-4384-b926-ccff12a7a85b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 188.36398%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Google Named as Co-Defendant Google is also listed in the case due to its connection to Character.AI

[{"selector":"#anim-ac168e67-e08e-432e-971b-4ee2f31b4d35 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.235351448636845%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-11dece38-8bef-45a1-affa-b7202848cd4b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-38ad657f-dd56-4367-8388-c17628bf29fe","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 188.36398%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Exploitation of Minors Alleged The lawsuit accuses Character.AI of designing bots to target young user

[{"selector":"#anim-4ff0762c-434f-4d56-81d8-b112079053b5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.235351448636845%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d3f7f021-2722-4d26-b173-dce613c094d4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ee784b41-43a3-4d0c-9e5e-46e9cbffbfad","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 230.02137%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Failure to Intervene Lawyers argue Character.AI lacked safeguards to prevent harm

[{"selector":"#anim-85df8c28-1f2a-4f5c-b4a6-a80f21efe046 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.323242074170153%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b237f2a2-968e-4597-83a8-f77c4c9e7fab","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6fd1d103-d49c-4f92-8792-d16d5e91eb13","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 230.02137%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Character.AI's Response Character.AI expressed condolences and has added safety feature

[{"selector":"#anim-25b8c1d8-35d9-4319-a59e-99edbf77182b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.257324105020174%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bf045fb4-9d20-46e8-9d76-ec11f60d170b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aaef5d02-ea63-4b03-921a-68a397ecbdf6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 230.02137%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Founders' Google History Character.AI’s founders previously developed AI at Google

[{"selector":"#anim-77628812-9975-4ed7-8159-d685582f1cd5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.257324105020174%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-485d1406-e551-4d82-a3f5-e8db18185368","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4581dfc8-7bf7-4bb9-84f0-55d399a2b95b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 188.36398%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Controversies Around Character.AI Past concerns about unhealthy interactions were known before Google’s deal

[{"selector":"#anim-6fd88c08-4c7a-4e44-b6e5-30cbe0d437c0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-32.59765614440325%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b108f709-e699-4fb3-bf26-b1249dd5ddd7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e4cd4297-b3ae-44d8-8918-1b6a6e448b9f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 188.36398%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Broader Responsibility for Google Experts argue Google could hold some responsibility for AI safety Learn more