![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1767963490_907_4000.jpg\")
<\/p>\nGoogle and Character.AI, a startup, have settled lawsuits filed by families accusing artificial intelligence chatbots of harming minors, including contributing to a Florida teenager\u2019s suicide, according to court filings on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cParties have agreed to a mediated settlement in principle to resolve all claims between them,\u201d the Florida filing stated. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed.<\/p>\n
The cases include one from Megan Garcia, whose 14-year-old son Sewell Setzer III killed himself in February 2024.<\/p>\n
Garcia\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Setzer\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
The Charcter.AI app on a smartphone in 2023. Photograph: Jeenah Moon\/Bloomberg via Getty Images<\/p>\n
Google was connected to the case through a $2.7bn licensing deal it agreed to in 2024 with Character.AI. The tech giant also hired Character.AI founders Noam Shazeer and Daniel De Freitas, both former Google employees who rejoined the tech giant as part of that deal.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for Character.AI declined to comment. Garcia and Google did not immediately respond to requests for comment.<\/p>\n
Character.AI announced in October it would eliminate chat capabilities for users younger than 18 following the uproar over the suicide case.<\/p>\n
Quick GuideContact us about this storyShow<\/p>\n
The best public interest journalism relies on first-hand accounts from people in the know.<\/p>\n
If you have something to share on this subject, you can contact us confidentially using the following methods.<\/p>\n
Secure Messaging in the Guardian app<\/strong><\/p>\n The Guardian app has a tool to send tips about stories. Messages are end to end encrypted and concealed within the routine activity that every Guardian mobile app performs. This prevents an observer from knowing that you are communicating with us at all, let alone what is being said.<\/p>\n If you don’t already have the Guardian app, download it (iOS<\/a>\/Android<\/a>) and go to the menu. Select \u2018Secure Messaging\u2019. <\/p>\n SecureDrop, instant messengers, email, telephone and post<\/strong><\/p>\n If you can safely use the Tor network without being observed or monitored, you can send messages and documents to the Guardian via our SecureDrop platform<\/a>.<\/p>\n