The litigation follows a documented escalation in AI-safety enforcement. In September 2025, the FTC launched a formal investigation into chatbots marketed to or accessible by minors, issuing Section 6(b) orders to multiple companies. State-level product-liability and consumer-protection claims have now followed, framing chatbots as potentially defective products rather than abstract policy concerns.
Trial consultants report that jurors in AI-harm cases involving minors respond with heightened emotional intensity, which will likely shape how these disputes play out in court. The legal pressure is mounting: Congress has introduced the CHATBOT Act and GUARD Act in 2026 specifically to address alleged harms from companion chatbots. Attorneys defending AI companies or representing plaintiffs in similar cases should expect aggressive discovery around internal safety protocols, user-vulnerability data, and design choices that prioritized engagement over child protection.