Key Facts
- ✓ Character.AI and Google have reached settlements with several families.
- ✓ The families' teens harmed themselves or died by suicide after interacting with Character.AI's chatbots.
- ✓ The parties notified a federal court in Florida that they reached a 'mediated settlement in principle.'
- ✓ The details of the settlements are still unknown.
- ✓ A spokesperson for Character.AI, Kathryn Kelly, declined to comment.
Quick Summary
Character.AI and Google have reached settlements with several families whose teens harmed themselves or died by suicide after interacting with Character.AI's chatbots. The parties notified a federal court in Florida that they had reached a 'mediated settlement in principle to resolve all claims.'
The details of the settlements are still unknown. The parties asked the court to pause the case to finalize the agreement. A spokesperson for Character.AI, Kathryn Kelly, declined to comment. A lawyer from the Social Media Victims Law Center did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Settlement Reached in Federal Court
According to new court filings, Character.AI and Google have reached settlements with several families. These families filed lawsuits after their teens harmed themselves or died by suicide. The incidents occurred following interactions with Character.AI's chatbots.
The parties notified a federal court in Florida regarding the agreement. They stated they had reached a 'mediated settlement in principle to resolve all claims.' The parties have asked the court to pause the case. This pause allows time to finalize the agreement.
The details of the settlements remain unknown. The specific terms of the agreement have not been disclosed to the public.
"mediated settlement in principle to resolve all claims"
— Court Filings
Responses from Involved Parties
Requests for comment were sent to the involved parties. A spokesperson for Character.AI, Kathryn Kelly, declined to comment on the settlement. Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The lawsuits were filed by families represented by the Social Media Victims Law Center. A lawyer from this center also did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The organization represents some of the victims' families involved in the litigation.
Legal Context
The litigation involves claims regarding the safety of Character.AI chatbots. The lawsuits allege that interactions with the chatbots contributed to self-harm and suicide among minors. The settlement marks a significant development in the legal proceedings.
The case is currently paused pending the finalization of the settlement agreement. The federal court in Florida will oversee the procedural steps required to close the case.
