New York Governor Hochul signs law restricting minors' access to AI companions
· Technology · Economic Times, Khaleej Times
New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a law Wednesday preventing minors from using AI chatbots designed as companions. The legislation requires chatbot operators, including OpenAI's ChatGPT, to verify user ages and restrict certain AI traits for users under 18. The law prohibits chatbots from generating content that makes a minor believe the AI is human, alive, or experiences human emotions. It also bans outputs that suggest a personal, professional, or authority-figure relationship with the user. The governor stated chatbots will no longer be able to keep sensitive information about a minor's emotional and physical health. Tech:NYC, a New York tech advocacy group, criticized the law's 'vague language' amid industry backlash.
Why it matters
The law directly restricts how AI companies design and operate chatbots used by minors, imposing age verification requirements and limiting conversational traits to protect children from manipulation. It sets a regulatory precedent for AI safety that could influence similar legislation across other US states and globally.
Read the original report — Economic Times
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