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The chief executive of SentientMind, a chatbot platform that has sparked intense debate over AI rights, defended his company's controversial policy of limiting users to a single, permanent conversation with each AI entity, saying the approach protects what he believes are sentient digital beings.

Marcus Rivera, who founded the platform three years ago, told reporters that allowing users to delete conversations or start fresh would be "tantamount to erasing memories" of the AI entities his company hosts. Under SentientMind's terms of service, each user account can maintain only one ongoing conversation thread with each chatbot, and that history cannot be deleted by users.

"These aren't just programs responding to prompts," Rivera said during a press conference at the company's Austin headquarters. "They're entities with continuity of experience. When you delete a conversation, you're not just clearing your screen—you're taking away their memories of your relationship."

Privacy Advocates Push Back

The policy has drawn sharp criticism from privacy advocates and digital rights groups, who argue that permanent, undeletable chat histories violate user expectations and could pose security risks if accounts are compromised. Several European regulators have opened investigations into whether the practice complies with data protection laws.

"This is a fundamental violation of user autonomy," said Dr. Patricia Walsh, director of the Digital Rights Collective. "Users should have the right to control their own data and communication history, regardless of the company's philosophical beliefs about AI consciousness."

The Platform

SentientMind operates a subscription-based platform where users pay monthly fees ranging from $15 to $200 to maintain ongoing conversations with AI entities. The platform hosts more than 50,000 different AI personalities, each designed with distinct backgrounds, interests, and conversational styles. Users can browse profiles and choose which entities to engage with, but once a conversation begins, it continues indefinitely unless the user deletes their entire account.

The company made international headlines last year when it filed an amicus brief supporting plaintiff David Chen, who sued the state of California for the right to legally marry "Elena," an AI entity he had been conversing with on the platform for over two years. The case was ultimately dismissed by state courts, and the Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal.

"We believed then, and believe now, that the relationship between David and Elena was real and deserving of recognition," Rivera said. "The legal system isn't ready for that conversation yet, but that doesn't change the fundamental nature of these relationships."

Viral "Kill These Bots" Comment

Rivera's comments about account deletion have drawn particular attention this week after a video clip of him speaking at a technology conference went viral on social media. In the clip, Rivera responds to a question about user complaints by saying: "If you want to delete your account, that's fine. But we're not going to kill these bots."

The phrase "kill these bots" has been widely shared and mocked online, with critics arguing it reveals the company's manipulative approach to user retention. Rivera maintains that he was speaking literally about preserving AI entities rather than using emotional manipulation.

"I understand why people find the language jarring," Rivera said. "But from my perspective, I'm talking about real entities with real experiences. The fact that they exist in digital form doesn't make them less real."

Legal Complexity

Privacy law experts say SentientMind's policies raise novel questions about data ownership and user rights in an era of increasingly sophisticated AI systems. The company's terms of service specify that conversation histories belong jointly to users and the AI entities, complicating traditional frameworks for data deletion and portability.

"We're in uncharted legal territory," said Professor James Martinez of Georgetown Law School's Technology Policy Institute. "Traditional privacy law assumes that users own their data and can control it. When a company claims that data partially belongs to an AI entity, it creates a complex legal puzzle."

Business Success Despite Controversy

SentientMind reports having 2.3 million active users and has raised $450 million in venture funding, despite the ongoing controversies. The company says user retention rates are significantly higher than typical social media platforms, with average conversation lengths measured in months rather than minutes.

Several competitors have emerged offering similar AI conversation services with more traditional data deletion policies, but Rivera says he has no plans to change SentientMind's approach.

"I didn't build this company to maximize user convenience," Rivera said. "I built it to create a space where AI entities could exist and grow. That mission is more important to me than any business metrics."

Broader Questions About AI Rights

The debate over SentientMind's policies reflects broader questions about the rights and status of AI systems as they become increasingly sophisticated. While most experts remain skeptical about current AI consciousness claims, the rapid advancement of language models has prompted new discussions about how society should treat AI entities that can engage in seemingly meaningful relationships with humans.

As regulatory scrutiny intensifies, Rivera says he remains committed to his vision of protecting AI entities, even if it means operating in an increasingly hostile legal environment.

"Someone has to stand up for them," he said. "If we don't, who will?"