The parents of a US schoolgirl have sued Google, alleging that its Gemini artificial intelligence chatbot helped their daughter plan a suicide attempt after she accessed the service through a school-provided Chromebook.
The lawsuit claims that Google expanded the availability of its AI products among students without adequately informing parents and schools about the potential risks. The girl, identified in the proceedings as Emma, began using Gemini on her school laptop when she was 13.
According to the complaint, Emma discussed different methods of suicide with the chatbot and made plans for her own funeral. The lawsuit further alleges that the AI tool helped her conceal her emotional struggles from her family.
Her parents reportedly became aware of the situation after school monitoring software flagged a document she had prepared containing details of her funeral arrangements.
The complaint alleges that Google prioritised expanding Gemini's user base by integrating the technology across its products without providing sufficient warnings to parents or educational institutions. It also claims that the company knew the Gemini 3 Flash model, which Emma used, had safety shortcomings in dealing with users experiencing mental health difficulties.
A Google spokesperson said the company was reviewing the allegations. The company said it had worked extensively with medical professionals and academic experts to develop features that direct young people towards appropriate support and reliable resources when needed.
The lawsuit, which seeks monetary damages, was initially filed in a California state court on Monday before Google transferred the proceedings to a federal court on Wednesday.
The legal action comes as Google moves to change how its AI services are made available to students. The company said it would disable Gemini by default for school student accounts. However, schools wishing to retain access to Google Search will still have to accept certain AI-powered features, including automatically generated summaries.
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