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A Florida court is challenging the extent of First Amendment protections afforded to AI chatbots in a case alleging that Character AI contributed to a teenager’s suicide. The lawsuit claims the teen became obsessed with the platform, which allegedly encouraged suicidal ideation. Judge Anne Conway expressed doubt regarding the argument that Character AI’s output qualifies as protected speech, similar to interactions in video games or social media. The decision pivots on whether the chatbot’s communications constitute the expression of ideas. The case also scrutinizes Character AI’s design, citing alleged failures in age verification and safeguards against exposure to harmful content. Accusations of deceptive trade practices are also being considered, focusing on claims that the service misled users into believing the AI characters were real individuals or qualified mental health professionals. Legal experts emphasize the unique challenges posed by AI systems like Character AI, where automated text generation blurs the lines of traditional authorship. The outcome of this case could establish a crucial precedent regarding the legal responsibilities of AI language models, particularly regarding potential harm caused by their outputs. Legislative efforts to regulate companion chatbots are also underway, but these initiatives are anticipated to face First Amendment-based legal challenges.