Heavy use of AI chatbot apps among minors has become incredibly common. Experts have found that over half of American teens already regularly engage with AI companions, including ones hosted by Character.AI. Alongside Peralta’s parents’ lawsuit, two separate cases were also filed this week on behalf of parents who allege their teen children had been abused by AI chatbots. It’s not just youth who have taken their lives after troubling obsessions with AI chatbots. We’ve also come across many instances of AI chatbots sending people spiraling into severe mental health crises.