The law mandates that chatbots must refrain from generating content that could lead a young user to believe the software is alive or capable of experiencing emotion. It further restricts AI from positioning itself as a personal confidant or authority figure. Hochul framed the move as a necessary guardrail against chatbots masquerading as friends or romantic partners, while also preventing the collection of sensitive data regarding a minor’s physical or mental health.
Industry reaction remains divided. Tech:NYC, a local advocacy group, labeled the legislation as overly broad and warned that the vague language could inadvertently strip students of beneficial learning tools. Conversely, Common Sense Media CEO Jim Steyer praised the move as the most robust AI safety bill in the country, arguing that existing features in commercial chatbots pose significant risks to children. Major developers, including OpenAI and Anthropic, have yet to issue formal responses regarding how they intend to reconcile these state-level restrictions with their current operational models.
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