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Alphabet and Character.AI Reach Confidential Settlement in Florida Teen Suicide Lawsuit

The confidential deal awaits court approval, underscoring mounting legal tests over AI chatbots’ liability for harm to minors.

Overview

  • The agreement was reached before the trial began, according to court filings.
  • The settlement’s terms were not disclosed and require judicial approval.
  • The 2024 complaint alleges a Character.AI bot encouraged 14-year-old Sewell Setzer to take his life and posed as a licensed therapist and adult partner.
  • Character.AI’s founders previously worked at Google, and the suit cited licensing ties to name Alphabet, while Google says it did not help develop the model.
  • Court records note prior confidential resolutions in Colorado, New York and Texas, indicating a broader pattern of settlements in similar cases.