Disruption

AI bills fuse existential threat with child safety

They aim to guard against both wide-scale cyber attacks and harm to minors.
Bruce Perry, 17, demonstrates the possibilities of artificial intelligence by creating an AI companion on Character AI, Tuesday, July 15, 2025, in Russellville, Ark. (AP Photo/Katie Adkins)

Artificial intelligence transparency bills in at least four states this year merge two key concerns about the technology: that it could unleash catastrophic harm and harm kids.

The legislation in Illinois, Nebraska, Tennessee and Utah builds on first-in-the-nation laws enacted last year in California and New York that regulate the largest and most powerful AI models known as frontier models. 

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