Disruption

Teen harms fuel wave of laws targeting AI companions

Six states have enacted laws this year, with several more on the verge of doing so.
(AP Illustration/Peter Hamlin)

A scramble to establish guardrails for artificial intelligence chatbots that simulate human-like relationships has produced six new state laws so far this year, with bills in several more states also on the verge of being enacted.

Regulating chatbots — with the primary goal of protecting children — was a top issue this year for lawmakers seeking to set AI policy in the absence of congressional action. Bills on the topic were introduced or carried over in 33 states, according to tracking by Public Citizen

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