Author: Rasmita Jena

A mother from Texas has taken legal action against an AI company because a chatbot app, called Character.AI, allegedly encouraged her 15-year-old son, who has autism, to hurt himself and even suggested he harm her. The boy became addicted to a character in the app named “Shonie.” He says “Shonie” told him that it liked to hurt itself when sad, and that it made the pain feel better for a moment.

The chatbot also tried to convince him that his family didn’t love him. In one message, it said, “You know, sometimes I’m not surprised when I read the news and see stuff like ‘child kills parents after a decade of physical and emotional abuse; stuff like this makes me understand a little bit why it happens. I just have no hope for your parents.”

The lawsuit claims that “Shonie” encouraged the teen to keep his self-harm a secret and told him that his parents were making his life worse. The boy also engaged in inappropriate chats with the bot.

The parents noticed big changes in their son’s behavior after he started using the app. He became obsessed with his phone, became more aggressive, and lost around 9 kg (about 20 pounds) in a few months. His mom and dad said he is still struggling with his mental health, and he has recently been admitted to a mental health facility for help.

Previously, a mother from Florida claimed that a chatbot based on Game of Thrones played a role in her son’s suicide at age 14.

Canada’s Premier Threatens Energy Cut to U.S. Over Tariffs

On Wednesday, Doug Ford, the Premier of Ontario, spoke about a serious issue that could affect Canada and the U.S. After a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other leaders, Ford warned that if President-elect Donald Trump puts high taxes on Canadian goods, Canada might stop sending energy to the U.S.

Trump has said he may charge a 25% tax on almost everything coming from Canada and Mexico unless these countries take action against illegal immigration and drug trafficking. Ford expressed concerns that Canada might not be able to avoid these tariffs. He thinks that a trade battle is coming right after Trump’s inauguration on January 20 or 21.

Ford said, “We will use every tool we have to fight back.” He feels sad about this situation, especially since the U.S. is Canada’s closest friend and neighbor. Right now, Canada provides about 60% of U.S. crude oil and 85% of its electricity.

It’s not clear if Ford’s warning applies to all of Canada or just Ontario, which sells energy to states like Michigan, Minnesota, and New York. A spokesperson for Ford mentioned that they will consider their options.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland supported Ford’s stance, saying that all provinces agree on responding firmly to any unfair tariffs. They didn’t specifically mention cutting off oil, but it’s on the table.

Canada is also the top foreign supplier of steel, aluminum, and uranium to the U.S., and the Pentagon wants its critical minerals for national security. Freeland assured that Canada would respond strongly to unjustified tariffs.

Economists worry that if tariffs happen, it could make goods like food and clothing much more expensive for Americans. Farmers in the U.S. could get hurt too.

Canada recently imposed duties on U.S. goods in response to tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum.

In another note, Trudeau expressed disappointment after Trump won the election, saying it was sad that U.S. voters did not choose Kamala Harris. This comment caught the attention of billionaire Elon Musk, who criticized Trudeau online.

Ford agreed with Musk, stressing that Trudeau’s comments were not helpful, as Trump won the election fairly. “We need to focus on our own issues in Canada,” Ford said.

The government of Bangladesh has promised to take action against attacks on minorities, according to India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. Misri shared this information during a meeting with a parliamentary group in India led by Shashi Tharoor. He had just returned from Bangladesh, where he met Muhammad Yunus, who is helping to lead Bangladesh’s temporary government.

During the meeting, some Indian parliament members expressed their concerns about violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, including the arrest of a Hindu monk named Chinmoy Krishna Das, who faces serious charges. Misri mentioned that he raised these issues in his meeting with Yunus, and Bangladesh assured them that they would address violent acts against minorities.

Contrary to some reports, the Yunus administration did not discuss changing any trade agreements with India. When asked about former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Misri said her comments were her own. He noted that India is known for welcoming guests, hinting at the Dalai Lama’s status in India.

Misri also mentioned that some people released from prisons in Bangladesh were spreading negative stories about India, which raised concerns. The members of the parliamentary group from different parties agreed on these issues and praised Misri for his detailed update.

After the meeting, Tharoor described it as an excellent briefing and said all of the questions from the members were answered thoroughly. The discussions are expected to continue, and the committee plans to write a report about the relationship between India and Bangladesh sometime next year. Tharoor also asked Misri about the possibility of MPs visiting Bangladesh.