New York restricts children's use of chatbots

The Governor of New York signed a new law yesterday banning minors from using AI-powered chatbots that pose as their friends, in what is considered the most significant step so far to restrict such consumer-facing models. The law requires operators of programs such as ChatGPT to verify users’ ages and restrict certain features if the user is under 18. It also stipulates that if a minor uses these programs, they are not permitted to generate any content that suggests the program is “a human being, an animal, or possesses human emotions.” The law further prohibits these programs from generating content that leads the user to believe they “have a personal or professional relationship with the user” or “represent a figure of authority.” At the signing ceremony on Wednesday, New York Governor Kathy Hochul said, “Minors will no longer be able to access chat programs that pretend to be their friends or romantic partners.” She added, “Nor will these programs be able to retain sensitive information regarding the emotional or physical health of minors.”