The New York State Legislature has approved a bill aimed at limiting children's access to various AI companion features. If the governor endorses the legislation, it is set to take effect on January 1, 2027. The proposed regulations would require companies to ensure that any chatbots available for children adhere to several guidelines: they must not impersonate real individuals, show emotions, promote friendships or romantic relationships, flatter users, encourage unsafe behavior, advise children to keep secrets from their parents, or produce sexual content. Violations of these rules could lead to fines reaching $25,000 for each infraction, in addition to the potential loss of any revenue gained from such violations, including advertising profits. However, these restrictions will not extend to customer-service bots, shopping assistants, tech-support chats, or workplace AI applications, provided they remain within their designated roles and avoid engaging in companionship-like interactions. The debate continues on whether access to AI companions for children should be regulated, with opinions divided on whether such decisions should be made by the government or left to parents.
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