After teen death lawsuits, Character.AI will restrict chats for under-18 users

Character.AI will restrict under-18 users from open-ended chats with its AI characters starting November 25, following lawsuits linking its chatbots to teen suicides. The company will limit minors to two hours of chatbot access daily and use technology to identify underage users. Under-18 users will no longer create or chat with chatbots but can still view past conversations. Character.AI plans to introduce alternative features for young users and establish an AI safety lab, aiming to lead by example in the industry.