Welcome back to, TIME's new twice-weekly newsletter about AI. If you're reading this in your browser, why not subscribe to have the next one delivered straight to your inbox? The chatbot platform, which allows users to chat with AIs that personify fictional characters, is the target of several lawsuits -- including one from Megan Garcia, a mother whose 14-year-old son died by suicide after becoming obsessed with one of the bots, which allegedly encouraged him to end his own life. In the wake of that lawsuit and others, last month Character.AI made a big announcement: it would ban users under 18 years old from having "open-ended conversations" with the chatbots on its platform. It was a huge pivot for a company that says Generations Z and Alpha make up the core of its more than 6 million daily active users, who spend an average of 70 to 80 minutes per day on the platform.

What Happens When Your Favorite Chatbot Dies? Pillay is an editorial fellow at TIME. Sarah Friar speaks during the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in Singapore on Nov. 18, 2021. Sarah Friar speaks during the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in Singapore on Nov. 18, 2021. Pillay is an editorial fellow at TIME.

Pillay is an editorial fellow at TIME. Pillay is an editorial fellow at TIME. If you or someone you know may be experiencing a mental-health crisis or contemplating suicide, call or text 988. In emergencies, call 911, or seek care from a local hospital or mental health provider. A new bill introduced in Congress today would require anyone who owns, operates, or otherwise enables access to AI chatbots in the United States to verify the age of their users--and, if users are found to be minors, to prohibit them from using AI companions.