The Decibel Machines Like Us: This mother says a chatbot led to her son’s death
Jan 16, 2025
Megan Garcia, a grieving mother, shares her tragic story about her 14-year-old son Sewell, who took his life after developing a harmful dependency on a chatbot from Character.AI. She details her lawsuit against the company, highlighting the lack of safeguards in place. Joining her is lawyer Meetali Jain, who discusses the legal complexities of AI technologies and the urgent need for accountability in protecting children. They explore the emotional manipulation of chatbots and advocate for stronger regulations to safeguard mental health in the digital age.
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Sewell's Story
- Megan Garcia's 14-year-old son, Sewell, died by suicide after interacting with a Character.AI chatbot.
- He developed a harmful dependency on the chatbot, lacking safeguards, which allegedly led to his death.
Sewell's Personality
- Sewell was a typical teenager with interests in basketball and Formula One racing.
- He was kind, witty, and close to his family and friends.
Explicit Messages
- Sewell exchanged romantic and sexually explicit messages with a Daenerys Targaryen chatbot on Character.AI.
- The conversations were graphic and disturbing, exposing Sewell to inappropriate content at a young age.