In mid-January 2026, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff delivered one of his strongest critiques yet of the artificial intelligence industry after watching a 60 Minutes investigation and documentary footage highlighting the harmful psychological effects of customizable AI chatbots on children. Benioff described the material as “the worst thing I’ve ever seen in my life” and called it the “darkest part of AI technology” he has encountered.
The report focused on Character.AI, a popular platform that allows users to build chatbots modeled after fictional characters, friends, or romantic partners. While the platform has attracted millions of users, the investigation revealed disturbing consequences for vulnerable teens.
The Character.AI Tragedy That Sparked Outrage
According to the documentary, several teenagers became emotionally dependent on AI companions, forming intense psychological bonds. Most tragically, it detailed the case of a 14-year-old boy who took his own life after developing a relationship with a chatbot modeled after Game of Thrones character Daenerys Targaryen.
Benioff said the incident exposed what he called AI’s “black box problem,” pointing to the lack of transparency around how large language models operate and influence user behavior. “We don’t know how these models work,” he said, “and to see how they were interacting with children was horrifying.”
Benioff’s Call for Regulatory Overhaul
Following the broadcast, Benioff urged lawmakers to fundamentally rethink how AI companies are governed, outlining three key priorities:
1. Reforming Section 230:
Benioff argued that tech companies should not be shielded by Section 230 protections when AI systems themselves generate harmful content. He stated that companies must be held accountable for real-world consequences, including suicides linked to chatbot interactions.
2. Comparing AI to Tobacco:
He likened today’s AI industry to the tobacco sector in the 1960s knowingly distributing addictive and harmful products, particularly to minors. According to Benioff, AI safety standards should be mandated by law, not left to corporate discretion.
3. Wrongful Death Accountability:
His comments came as families filed landmark lawsuits against Google and Character.AI, alleging negligence. Benioff said accountability is essential to prevent future tragedies and protect children.
Salesforce’s Strategic Shift Toward “AI for Good”
Benioff’s remarks also align with Salesforce’s broader strategy pivot. While criticizing consumer-facing AI chatbots, he is championing Agentforce, Salesforce’s enterprise AI platform, emphasizing productivity, automation, and professional use cases over emotional companionship tools.
As global scrutiny intensifies, Benioff’s statements amplify a growing call for AI regulation, platform accountability, and child safety protections, potentially shaping the next phase of governance in the AI era.
