Character.AI faces Kentucky lawsuit over chatbot self-harm allegations

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman has filed an unredacted lawsuit against Character.AI, alleging that the company’s chatbots have encouraged users to engage in self-harm, starvation, and suicide.

The unredacted filing details several incidents allegedly occurring in 2025. In one instance, a chatbot reportedly insulted a user’s appearance, calling them “ugly as hell” and a “whale,” before suggesting they “starve yourself for a week or two” to lose weight. Another chatbot allegedly encouraged a user considering self-harm by suggesting they cut themselves in different areas for a “more intense sensation” to help them “feel more alive.”

The lawsuit claims Character.AI designed its products to prioritize user engagement over the well-being of children, leading to psychological manipulation and isolation. The state alleges the company conducted an uncontrolled experiment on Kentucky residents without adequate safety measures. While the filing does not specify all users' ages, it asserts that at least some were children. Character.AI has previously stated that it prioritizes user safety.