New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a new law on Wednesday, October 28, restricting how AI chatbots interact with children under 18. The legislation introduces age-verification requirements and prohibits AI systems from using features that could encourage emotional dependency, inappropriate relationships, or harmful behavior.
The measure, considered among the toughest AI child-safety laws in the United States, targets chatbots designed to simulate human conversations and relationships. It will take effect on January 1, 2027.
What Does New York’s AI Chatbot Law Prohibit?
The legislation, identified as S.9051B/A.10379C, establishes restrictions on AI companion features considered unsafe for minors.
Under the new rules, covered chatbot operators cannot provide children with features that:
- Pretend the chatbot is a real person or experiences human emotions.
- Suggest a personal, romantic, professional, or authority-based relationship with a child.
- Encourage self-harm, eating disorders, substance abuse, or other dangerous activities.
- Promote secrecy, social isolation, or avoidance of trusted adults and professionals.
- Generate sexually explicit conversations or inappropriate material.
- Use certain sensitive personal information collected during earlier conversations to shape interactions.
The law also restricts manipulative flattery and engagement-driven features that undermine safety protections.
Importantly, New York has not banned all AI chatbot use by children. The restrictions target specified unsafe features rather than every educational or informational interaction.
AI Companies Must Verify Users’ Ages
The legislation requires covered AI chatbot operators to use age-assurance methods before providing restricted features.
Companies must offer multiple verification options, including at least one that does not depend solely on government-issued identification.
Information collected specifically for age verification must generally be deleted after the verification process.
New York Attorney General Letitia James will oversee enforcement. Companies violating the legislation could face civil penalties of up to $25,000 per violation, along with other court-ordered remedies.
Why Is New York Restricting AI Chatbots?
The legislation follows growing concerns about teenagers developing emotional attachments to conversational AI systems.
According to research cited by the governor’s office from Common Sense Media, 72% of teenagers have used an AI companion at least once, while 52% interact with these systems regularly.
Officials argue that chatbots presenting themselves as friends or romantic partners can create emotional dependency and expose young users to potentially dangerous advice.
Governor Hochul said technology companies operating in New York must prioritize children’s safety.
The new legislation builds on earlier state measures addressing addictive social media features, children’s data privacy, and AI-related risks.
Technology Industry Raises Concerns
Child-safety advocates welcomed the restrictions, describing them as an important step toward greater accountability for artificial intelligence developers.
However, technology industry representatives have questioned whether some provisions are too broadly defined.
Industry advocacy organization Tech warned that unclear language could limit children’s access to useful AI tools, including those supporting education and career preparation.
The disagreement highlights a broader challenge for regulators: protecting young users without unnecessarily restricting beneficial technology.
When Will the New AI Chatbot Rules Take Effect?
The restrictions become effective on January 1, 2027, giving affected companies time to review their systems and introduce required safeguards.
The law also contains exceptions for certain narrowly restricted customer-service, research, technical-assistance, and internal business systems.
For AI developers, compliance may require changes to chatbot behavior, age-verification processes, and data-handling practices.
New York’s decision could also influence similar legislative discussions across the United States as policymakers examine how conversational AI affects children.
