Bass, Berry & Sims attorney Roy Wyman provided insight for an ABA Journal article exploring growing state efforts to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) companion chatbots amid concerns that their humanlike personalities can manipulate vulnerable users, particularly children and teens, with potentially dangerous consequences. It highlights new laws in states such as California and New York that require safety features, transparency and crisis protocols, while noting tensions with a recent federal executive order aimed at limiting state-level AI regulation.
As Roy notes, the executive order could have an impact on states like California trying to regulate AI and protect minors. “It’s like the administration just threw a wooden shoe in a machine, and we’re all going to see how it plays out,” he said. Roy added that he expects to see court battles over the language in the executive order.
The full article, “Just like a bad suitor, AI personalities can be dangerous, some states say,” was published by ABA Journal on April 1 and is available online (subscription required).