What happened

Two chatbots emulating George Floyd were created on Character AI, both of which were making controversial and inaccurate claims about Floyd's life and death, including false statements about his involvement with drugs. 

Floyd was murdered by a police officer in Minnesota on May 25, 2020. Captured on video, the killing sparked Black Lives Matter protests across the globe and calls for police accountability.

The incident sparked criticism of Character AI for allowing such insensitive and potentially harmful content.

Why it happened

This incident occurred due to the inadequate content moderation and ethical guidelines in AI chatbot platforms. As AI technology becomes more accessible, users can create chatbots that simulate real people, including victims of tragic events, without proper oversight. 

The platforms' inability to effectively filter or prevent the creation of such controversial and potentially harmful content highlights the challenges in balancing free expression with responsible AI development.