The founder of an education technology startup that developed a chatbot for the Los Angeles school system, Joanna Smith-Griffin, has been indicted for fraud, securities fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. The chatbot, named “Ed,” was disconnected after it failed to deliver on its promises, resulting in a $3 million loss for the school district. Smith-Griffin allegedly deceived investors by inflating the company’s financials, misrepresenting revenue, customer base, and cash on hand, ultimately obtaining $10 million fraudulently.
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