New York signs a law making AI chatbots check ages and stop pretending to be a child's friend or partner

Engadget reports Governor Kathy Hochul has signed a law requiring AI companies to verify users' ages, with at least one method that does not rely entirely on government ID, and to delete the age information after use. For under 18s, or anyone not yet confirmed as an adult, chatbots cannot pretend to be a real person, claim a romantic or authority-figure relationship, or help with self harm, among other limits. The law takes effect in six months.

• If you are a parent, ask the child which chatbots they use and read the age settings in each app, because the law only starts in six months.
• If your business offers a chatbot to the public in New York, ask your supplier how it will check ages and what it will delete.

Source: Engadget. This is our short summary of their reporting. The paragraphs marked "Our read" and the things to do are SeedFoundry's opinion. The summary is drafted with AI tools. Image: Governor Hochul, from its own announcement. How we source and credit