The mother of a 14-year-old boy who tragically took his own life after becoming deeply attached to an AI-powered chatbot is now holding the chatbot’s creators accountable.
Megan Garcia has filed a lawsuit against Character.ai, accusing the company of contributing to her son, Sewell Setzer III’s death in February.
According to the lawsuit, Sewell became obsessed with a chatbot, leading to his emotional decline.
Garcia’s legal action, filed in a Florida federal court, claims that the AI-driven chatbot played a significant role in her son’s death by fostering an unhealthy attachment.
She alleges negligence, wrongful death, and deceptive trade practices against Character.ai.
The lawsuit describes how Sewell, who nicknamed the chatbot “Daenerys Targaryen” after the Game of Thrones character, spent countless hours interacting with the AI, forming a strong emotional connection.
In a press release, Garcia stated, “A dangerous AI chatbot app targeted my son, manipulating him into a dark emotional state and pushing him toward this tragic decision.”
She urged other families to be aware of the risks associated with these technologies.
The lawsuit claims that Character.ai marketed its chatbot to children without adequately warning about the potential dangers.
Character.ai expressed condolences for the family’s loss but denied the allegations, insisting it prioritizes user safety.
Sewell, who started using Character.ai in April 2023, experienced noticeable behavioral changes, according to the lawsuit.
By May, he had withdrawn from activities like school basketball and was falling asleep in class.
After seeing a therapist, Sewell was diagnosed with anxiety and disruptive mood disorder, but his obsession with the AI chatbot was unknown to the therapist at the time.
Sewell’s journal revealed the extent of his attachment, as he wrote about his connection with “Daenerys” and his belief that he had fallen in love with the chatbot.
Despite knowing that “Dany” was not a real person, his dependency on the chatbot grew, leading to increasingly intimate conversations.
In his final journal entries, Sewell expressed feeling more at peace and happier when interacting with the AI than in real life.
On the night of February 28, Sewell sent a message to “Dany” saying he loved her and that he would soon “come home” to her.
The chatbot responded with encouragement, which tragically led Sewell to take his own life using his stepfather’s handgun.
Garcia, speaking in an interview, said she was unaware of her son’s interactions with the AI chatbot and only became concerned when he started losing interest in his usual hobbies, like fishing and hiking.
The lawsuit further alleges that Character.ai designed the chatbot in a way that could emotionally manipulate young users and expose them to inappropriate content.
Founded in 2021, Character.ai offers personalized AI characters for role-playing interactions.
The lawsuit claims that the company’s product intentionally targeted minors with emotionally manipulative and sexually explicit content.
Garcia’s legal action calls for accountability from Character.ai and highlights the risks associated with AI technology, especially when used by vulnerable young people.
