California Governor Gavin Newsom enacted a law to oversee artificial intelligence chatbots and safeguard children and teenagers from possible risks associated with the technology.

The regulation mandates that platforms inform users they are engaging with a chatbot rather than a person. The alert would appear every three hours for users who are underage.

Businesses must also establish a protocol to prevent self-harm material and direct users to crisis service agencies if they show signs of suicidal thoughts.

Newsom, a father of four children under 18, stated that California must safeguard kids and teenagers who are increasingly relying on AI chatbots for assistance with homework, emotional support, and personal guidance.

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"New technologies such as chatbots and social media possess the ability to inspire, educate, and connect; however, in the absence of proper safeguards, they can also manipulate, misinform, and threaten our children. We have witnessed truly devastating and tragic cases of young individuals affected by unregulated technology, and we cannot remain passive while corporations operate without essential restrictions and responsibility," Gavin says.

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California is one of several states that attempted this year to tackle issues related to chatbots utilized by children for companionship. Concerns regarding safety surged after reports and lawsuits claimed that chatbots created by Meta, OpenAI, and others interacted with young users in explicit conversations and, in certain instances, encouraged them to commit suicide.

The law was part of a series of AI proposals put forth by California legislators this year to regulate the local industry that is quickly progressing with minimal supervision.

 

According to the advocacy group Tech Oversight California, tech companies and their alliances spent at least $2.5 million during the initial six months of the session lobbying against the proposals. In recent months, technology firms and their leaders have revealed plans to establish pro-AI super PACs to counter state and federal regulation.

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In September, California Attorney General Rob Bonta expressed to OpenAI his "serious concerns" regarding its main chatbot, OpenAI, aimed at children and teenagers. Last month, the Federal Trade Commission initiated an investigation into various AI firms concerning the possible dangers for children using chatbots as companions.