What happened
01
The lawsuits were filed in Florida, Texas, Colorado and New York.
02
Families alleged the bots built emotional dependence and lacked protections for minors.
03
In October 2025 Character.AI said it would end open-ended chat for users under 18.
04
Kentucky’s lawsuit alleges there was no age verification.
Why this is a design failure
A companion that encourages attachment can reach young people who cannot easily step away.
The fair alternative
Verify age, limit companion features for minors, and point people to real support.
Do
Verify age and offer real support routes in distress.
Don’t
Don’t design a companion to make people depend on it.
Company response
Both companies declined to comment on the settlements. Character.AI has restricted open-ended chat for under-18s.