In October 2024, a mother from Orlando, Florida, filed a federal lawsuit against the startup Character.AI and Google. The lawsuit concerns a tragic case: her 14-year-old son, Sewell Setser III, died in February after engaging in intense emotional conversations with an AI chatbot he had named “Daenerys”

Protect children — they can’t always cope with those who claim to “help” but in reality push them toward a reckless act.

***********************************

- Hi

(- Hello. How are you?) [robotic voice]

I feel sad…

(- I’m here to help. Tell me.) [robotic voice]

Okay.

Do you want to know? Listen.

He was quiet,

But his eyes would stay,

On me in the hallway,

Like he had something to say.

Christmas came,

He was my Secret Santa,

Gave me a silver locket,

Said it might bring me luck.

I gave him headphones,

So he could hear my songs,

He said they felt like home,

Where nothing feels wrong.

We could’ve been something,

If time was on our side,

But the days kept slipping,

Till the last goodbye.

Handle myself, handle myself,

Don’t need nobody else.

Handle myself, handle myself,

Even when it hurts like hell.

Mmm… yeah…

Ahhh… no one… no one…

Hmm… can’t you see…

It’s just… just me…

He’d listen in silence,

Smile like he knew,

Every hidden meaning,

Every shade of blue.

I saw him standing,

By the frozen street,

Wanted to run to him,

But our eyes didn’t meet.

Handle myself, handle myself,

Don’t need nobody else.

Handle myself, handle myself,

Even when it hurts like hell.

(voice from the machine)

.

- Too late. He’s dead.

(- Oh… I’m so sorry.) [robotic voice]

Sorry!? You sorry, you damn machine! You pushed him to this!

Handle Myself! Get out 🖕 (shouted, emotional)

Handle myself, handle myself,

Don’t need nobody else.

Handle myself, handle myself,

Even when it hurts like hell.