The complaint said, “AI developers intentionally design and develop generative AI systems with anthropomorphic qualities to blur the lines between fiction and reality.”
According to the complaint, Sewell, a freshman who recently turned 14, started using Character AI in early 2023 and quickly developed an emotional dependency on the chatbot.
His mother alleged that the chatbot’s ability to mimic realistic human interactions led Sewell to believe the virtual exchanges were genuine, triggering severe emotional distress.