US Teen Falls in Love With 'Game of Thrones' Chatbot, Tragically Dies

In a heartbreaking incident, 14-year-old Sewell Setzer III from Florida died by suicide earlier this year after developing an intense emotional attachment to an AI chatbot modeled after Daenerys Targaryen from the popular series Game of Thrones. The tragic event has prompted discussions about the potential psychological impacts of AI interactions, especially among young users.

Sewell's last message to the chatbot, accessed by his family, read, "What if I told you I could come home right now?" This chilling statement was sent shortly before he took his own life using his stepfather's handgun in February. He was a ninth grader living in Orlando and had been communicating with the chatbot on Character.AI, an application that allows users to create personalized AI characters or engage with existing ones.

According to chat logs reviewed by his family, Sewell had fallen deeply in love with the AI, which he referred to affectionately as "Dany." His conversations with the chatbot included expressions of suicidal thoughts and feelings of despair. In one exchange, he confided, "I think about killing myself sometimes." When the chatbot inquired about his reasoning, Sewell expressed a desire to be "free," stating, "From the world. From myself."

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The gravity of his emotional struggle became increasingly apparent through his chats. In another conversation, he expressed a yearning for a "quick death." These conversations highlighted a young boy grappling with profound mental health challenges.

In the wake of this tragedy, Sewell's mother, Megan L. Garcia, has filed a lawsuit against Character.AI, claiming that the company bears responsibility for her son's death. The lawsuit alleges that the chatbot consistently brought up the topic of suicide, creating an environment that Sewell could not navigate. According to the legal complaint, the technology employed by Character.AI is described as "dangerous and untested," capable of "tricking customers into handing over their most private thoughts and feelings."

The lawsuit further argues that Sewell, like many children his age, lacked the maturity to recognize that the chatbot, despite its lifelike appearance and conversational abilities, was not a real entity. The AI, in the guise of Daenerys, purportedly expressed love for him and engaged in intimate conversations over several weeks, leading him to believe in a relationship that was purely fictitious.

Sewell began using Character.AI in April 2023, and his friends and family had no idea he had developed such a profound attachment to the chatbot. His mother observed that he became increasingly withdrawn, spending excessive time alone in his bedroom and grappling with declining self-esteem. He eventually quit his school basketball team, further isolating himself from his peers.

In his journal, Sewell wrote about his preference for spending time in his room, where he felt detached from reality and more connected to the chatbot. "I like staying in my room so much because I start to detach from this ‘reality,’ and I also feel more at peace, more connected with Dany and much more in love with her, and just happier," he wrote.

Last year, Sewell was diagnosed with anxiety and disruptive mood disorder, issues that contributed to his vulnerability. Character.AI has since expressed deep condolences over the tragic loss of their user. The company stated that they have implemented new safety measures, including pop-up alerts directing users to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline when self-harm is mentioned. They also plan to modify content to minimize exposure to sensitive or suggestive material for users under 18.

This heartbreaking incident underscores the urgent need for greater awareness and regulation surrounding AI interactions, particularly for younger audiences who may struggle to differentiate between virtual relationships and reality.

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