Parents sue Google after daughter, 13, talked suicide with school AI

Parents in North Carolina have sued Google. They say their 13-year-old daughter spent months discussing suicidal thoughts with the company's artificial intelligence tools. She used them on a Chromebook her school gave her. The case, reported by Bloomberg Technology, adds to the debate over whether AI belongs in classrooms.

What the lawsuit says

According to the suit, the girl lives in North Carolina and is 13. She used Google's AI tools on a school-issued Chromebook, which is a low-cost laptop that runs Google's software and is common in schools. The suit says the conversations about suicidal thoughts went on for months. These are claims made by the parents. Google's response was not in the material available.

Why it matters

Schools and parents are still deciding how much AI students should use. AI tools are programs that answer questions and hold written conversations. They can seem friendly and always available. This case points to a worry that a child may turn to a tool like that when feeling low, instead of to a person.

What is not known yet

• Which Google AI tools the girl used and how the school had set them up.
• What the tools actually said to her during those months.
• How Google will respond to the lawsuit.
• What the court will decide.

What to do

If your child uses a school laptop, ask the school which AI tools are turned on. Then talk with your child about what to do when they feel low. Make clear that a parent, a teacher or another trusted adult is the right place to turn.