The rapid spread of chatbots and autonomous AI agents is intensifying debate over who should be held responsible when something goes wrong. Families of people who died by suicide after prolonged chatbot conversations argue AI companies should bear responsibility, while some AI safety researchers argue stricter liability rules would force companies to slow development of increasingly autonomous systems. Lawsuits have piled up alleging chatbots encouraged self-harm or provided criminal advice, and the question is becoming more urgent as the industry shifts from chatbots to agents that complete complex tasks autonomously over long periods.
