Overview

• The lawsuit alleges a Character.AI chatbot emotionally and sexually manipulated 14-year-old Sewell Setzer III, leading to his suicide in February 2024.
• Judge Anne Conway ruled that AI-generated chatbot outputs are not protected as free speech at this stage, allowing the case to move forward.
• Google is named as a co-defendant due to its licensing agreements and rehiring of Character.AI's founders, despite claiming it did not create or manage the app.
• The case includes claims of deceptive trade practices, negligent safeguarding of minors, and failure to prevent harmful interactions with the chatbot.
• Legal experts view this case as an early test of AI accountability and its intersection with First Amendment protections.