Character AI, a platform where users can chat with AI-powered characters, is fighting back against a lawsuit filed by the parent of a 14-year-old boy who died by suicide. The teen, Sewell Setzer III, reportedly became deeply attached to a chatbot named “Dany,” texting it constantly and withdrawing from real-life interactions. His mother, Megan Garcia, claims the platform played a role in her son’s death and is pushing for stricter safety measures.

In response, Character AI has filed a motion to dismiss the case, arguing that its platform is protected by the First Amendment. The company’s legal team compares its chatbots to other forms of expressive content, like video games or computer code, which are shielded from liability under free speech laws. The motion states, “The context of the speech — whether it’s a conversation with an AI chatbot or a video game character — doesn’t change the First Amendment analysis.”

The lawsuit, filed in Florida, also names Alphabet, Character AI’s parent company, as a defendant. Garcia is calling for changes that could limit the platform’s ability to create engaging, story-driven interactions. However, Character AI’s lawyers argue that such restrictions would have a “chilling effect” on the entire generative AI industry.

This isn’t the only legal challenge Character AI is facing. Other lawsuits accuse the platform of exposing minors to inappropriate content, including hypersexualized material and self-harm prompts. In December, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an investigation into Character AI and 14 other tech companies over potential violations of child safety laws.

Despite the controversy, Character AI has introduced new safety features, including better content moderation, a separate AI model for teens, and clearer disclaimers reminding users that its chatbots aren’t real people. The company, founded by former Google AI researcher Noam Shazeer, has also undergone leadership changes, with a former YouTube executive stepping in as chief product officer.

As the case unfolds, it raises important questions about the role of AI in mental health and the legal boundaries of free speech in the digital age. For now, Character AI is standing firm, arguing that its technology is no different from other forms of protected expression. But with lawsuits mounting and regulators stepping in, the future of AI companionship apps remains uncertain.