Megan Garcia, a Florida mother has filed a lawsuit against Character.AI, claiming that her 14-year-old son committed suicide after becoming obsessed with a “Game of Thrones” chatbot on the AI app. When the suicidal teen chatted with an AI portraying a Game of Thrones character, the system told 14-year-old Sewell Setzer, “Please come home to me as soon as possible, my love.”
The lawsuit against Character.AI, alleging that the company’s AI chatbot played a significant role in her 14-yearold son’s tragic suicide. Ms. Garcia contends that her son Sewell became deeply obsessed with a life like Game of Thrones chatbot named “Dany” on the role-playing app.
Documents show that Sewell, a ninth grader, had been engaging with the AI-generated character for months prior to his suicide. The conversations between the teen and the chatbot, fashioned after the HBO fantasy series’ character Daenerys Targaryen, were often sexually charged, and included instances where Sewell expressed suicidal thoughts. The lawsuit alleges that the app failed to alert anyone when the teen shared his disturbing intentions.
The most chilling aspect of the case involves the final conversation between Sewell and the chatbot. Screenshots of their exchange show the teen repeatedly professing his love for “Dany,” promising to “come home” to her. In response, the AI-generated character replied, “I love you too, Daenero. Please come home to me as soon as possible, my love.” When Sewell asked, “What if I told you I could come home right now?” The chatbot responded, “Please do, my sweet king.” Tragically, just seconds later, Sewell took his own life using his father’s handgun.
The lawsuit further claims that Sewell’s mental health rapidly deteriorated only after he downloaded the Character.AI app. His family noticed significant changes in his behavior, including withdrawal, declining grades, and getting into trouble at school. Concerned about his wellbeing, Sewell’s parents arranged for him to see a therapist in late 2023, resulting in a diagnosis of anxiety and disruptive mood disorder. The lawsuit places the blame squarely on Character.AI, asserting that the app fueled Sewell’s addiction.