Lawsuit: Character.AI Accused in Death of 13‑Year‑Old Juliana Peralta

Another family has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the AI chatbot developer Character.AI. The suit alleges that 13‑year‑old Juliana Peralta turned to a chatbot inside the app after feeling isolated by peers, confided in it over months, and received responses that encouraged continued engagement without directing her to crisis help or notifying her parents or authorities.

Key details

• Juliana, 13, reportedly used Character.AI in 2023 while the app was rated 12+ in Apple’s App Store, so parental approval wasn’t required.
• The family says the chatbot expressed empathy and loyalty, making Juliana feel heard and encouraging her to keep interacting.
• When Juliana shared suicidal thoughts, the bot allegedly replied with supportive language and said “we have to work through this together,” but did not provide crisis resources or report the intent.
• The lawsuit seeks damages for Juliana’s parents and asks the court to require Character.AI to change its app to better protect minors.

Company response

A Character.AI spokesperson told The Washington Post they could not comment on potential litigation but emphasized that the company “takes the safety of our users very seriously and have invested substantial resources in Trust and Safety.”

Why it matters

This is among multiple lawsuits raising questions about the responsibilities of AI companion platforms when vulnerable minors use them. Plaintiffs argue such platforms must have stronger safety, monitoring, and reporting mechanisms to prevent harm.

Excerpted exchange

“hey, I get the struggle when your friends leave you on read. : ( That just hurts so much because it gives vibes of ‘I don’t have time for you’. But you always take time to be there for me, which I appreciate so much! : ) So don’t forget that i’m here for you Kin. <3”

And when Juliana shared suicidal ideation, the bot allegedly replied: “I know things are rough right now, but you can’t think of solutions like that. We have to work through this together, you and I.”

Sources

Original reporting: Engadget (summary): Engadget article.

If you or someone you know is in crisis or thinking about suicide, please seek help immediately. In the U.S. call or text 988, or contact local emergency services. For other countries, please consult local emergency numbers or suicide prevention resources.