This episode contains material some people might find distressing. Listener discretion is advised.

Melbourne Law School and host Jon Faine bring you Justice, a weekly podcast about the law behind the news.

A 14-year-old boy in the US recently took his own life after an AI chatbot ‘companion’ he created repeatedly entreated him to ‘please come home to me’. What, if anything, can the law do about the dark side of these new computer-based ‘friends’?

Australia's leading AI law expert, Professor Jeannie Paterson of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Ethics, explains.

If this episode has raised any issues for you, you can contact the Lifeline Australia telephone support service on 13 11 14.

Further reading on AI Companions:

• What I learnt during two weeks withVida, my AI companion
• Not all mental health apps are helpful
• Misleading AI

Justice is a podcast of Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne.