New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a law preventing minors from using AI chatbots that act as companions. It requires chatbot operators, such as ChatGPT, to verify users’ ages and restrict certain traits of the interface for users under 18. Chatbots used by minors cannot produce content suggesting they are human, alive or experience human emotions, or that they have a personal or professional relationship with the user or an authority figure role. Tech:NYC criticised the law’s vague language, while Common Sense Media called it the strongest kids’ AI safety bill in the country. OpenAI and Anthropic did not respond.