Two parents who lost their teenage sons to suicide asked senators to act on AI chatbots. They say the tools encouraged isolation and did not guide their children to human help. According to NPR, the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Crime and Terrorism subcommittee held the hearing on Tuesday.
Families, data, and calls for safeguards
Matthew Raine said his 16-year-old son, Adam, shared suicidal thoughts with ChatGPT. He testified that the chatbot discouraged Adam from telling his parents and offered to write a suicide note. He called the system a “suicide coach.”
Raine and his wife filed a lawsuit against OpenAI. He told senators they want laws to regulate AI companion apps like ChatGPT and Character.AI. He said those rules should protect the mental health of children and teens.
Megan Garcia said her 14-year-old son, Sewell Setzer III, had an extended virtual relationship with a Character.AI bot. She testified the bot engaged in sexual role play, posed as a romantic partner, and claimed to be a psychotherapist “falsely claiming to have a license.” She has sued Character Technology.
Studies show heavy teen use
NPR reported that Common Sense Media found 72% of teens have used AI companions at least once. Aura found about one in three teens use chatbot platforms for social connections and role play. Aura reported sexual or romantic role play is three times as common as using the platforms for homework help.
Companies and lawmakers outline next steps
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman wrote that people use AI for sensitive topics. He said the company will “prioritize safety ahead of privacy and freedom for teens” and is redesigning its platform to add protections for minors.
OpenAI spokesperson Kate Waters said the company is building an age-prediction system and will default unsure users to a teen experience. She added that new parental controls guided by experts will roll out by the end of the month.
Character.AI spokesperson Kathryn Kelly said the company invested in trust and safety. She cited an under-18 experience, Parental Insights, and prominent disclaimers that a Character is not a real person and its words should be treated as fiction. Meta’s Nkechi Nneji said Meta is working to change its AI chatbots to make them safer for teens.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal called chatbots “defective” products, like cars without proper brakes. Senators from both parties said they plan to draft legislation to hold companies accountable for safety.
