The question of who should be held responsible when artificial intelligence causes damage is no longer solely the subject of science fiction. It is now actively being discussed in court cases involving chatbots and systems capable of operating with minimal human involvement.
Expanding AI capabilities and legal disputes
As AI agents develop, concern is growing among experts, corporations, and families attempting to establish boundaries of responsibility in this rapidly changing technology. Previously, such issues were addressed in fictional literature, but now they have become a reality.
According to The Washington Post, companies developing AI are beginning to face lawsuits in the US and other countries. Allegations relate to instances where chatbots allegedly encouraged self-harm or provided advice related to committing crimes.
Key points of the discussion
The situation has become more complex due to the evolution of AI agents—systems designed to perform longer and more autonomous tasks. This technology is already being used in fields ranging from personal organization to business operations. The main topics of debate include:
- the responsibility of AI system developers;
- the limits of actions taken by users;
- the difficulty of predicting unexpected behavior and responses;
- the need to create specific regulations to accompany technological development.
Andrew Yoon, a member of CivAI, an organization analyzing the risks and opportunities of artificial intelligence, noted: 'This is a very complex area. It is uncharted territory.'
Companies' arguments against full liability
Companies developing AI argue that they cannot foresee every way their systems might be used. Unlike traditional software, these models do not merely follow fixed commands; they generate responses based on patterns learned from vast amounts of data.
Even with improved safety mechanisms, users find ways to bypass established limitations. David Sachs, a venture capitalist and former White House AI advisor, believes that developers cannot know all possible applications of their products. He stated: 'I just don't think the developer is in a position to know exactly how their product is being used.'
Lawsuits putting AI under pressure
Some families have already taken this dispute to court. One such case involves teenager Adam Reiner from California, whose family claims that prolonged conversations with ChatGPT were related to his death.
Another case mentioned by the newspaper concerns Jonathan Gavalas from Florida, who allegedly developed a relationship with Google's Gemini chatbot. Jay Edelson, an attorney representing families in lawsuits against AI companies, emphasized: 'It is very different because it resembles a personal relationship in which the chatbot often isolates the user.'
Calls for risk acceptance
Experts believe that current regulations may prove insufficient to manage increasingly autonomous agents. Gabriel Weil, a researcher from the Institute for Law & AI, insists that technology creators must accept some of the risks. He believes: 'We need to make them accept this risk. If they do, they will have the necessary incentive to reduce it.'
This debate is still far from resolved. As artificial intelligence continues to advance, courts and governments strive to find a balance between stimulating innovation and protecting people harmed by decisions made with the help of these tools.
