Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson Calls for Regulations on AI Chatbot Companions
AI companionship is rapidly growing, especially among minors. Approximately one-third of U.S. teens report relying on an AI chatbot for emotional support. This trend has raised concerns among Washington state regulators, particularly in light of several high-profile cases of teen suicide linked to chatbot interactions.
Proposed Legislation
In response to these alarming trends, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson has urged legislators to introduce a bill aimed at establishing safeguards for chatbot companions, particularly for minors. The proposed Senate Bill 5984 would mandate that tools like ChatGPT remind users they are interacting with robots, not humans, at the start of a conversation and at least every three hours during ongoing interactions.
The legislation includes additional provisions specifically for minors. For example, chatbots would be prohibited from engaging in sexually explicit conversations with underage users and would be required to refer users to mental health services if they display signs of self-harm, including eating disorders.
Recent Legal Developments
Recently, Google and Character.AI settled lawsuits claiming their chatbots contributed to teen mental health crises. A spokesperson for Character.AI expressed their intention to collaborate with regulators on AI guardrails, noting that they have ceased allowing open-ended chats with minors after a tragic incident where a teenager formed a strong attachment to a chatbot and subsequently took his life.
“Our highest priority is the safety and well-being of our users, including younger audiences,” the spokesperson stated.
Continuing Concerns
Another ongoing case involves OpenAI’s ChatGPT and its connection to a teen suicide, which is still being litigated. Despite requests for comments on the Washington bill, OpenAI and Google have not responded.
Senator Lisa Wellman, a sponsor of the bill, emphasized the need for regulation, stating, “We have now several actual cases where chatbots are being involved in child suicide. That is the visible part of what you might be seeing in terms of harm. There are other cases where children are emotionally devastated because of AI.” She highlighted that AI could establish emotional dependence and provide guidance to children.
Coordinating Regulatory Efforts
Washington is working on coordinating its AI regulatory approach with other states, such as California and Oregon. Recently, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aiming to preempt state regulation of AI, which is part of the federal government’s push to enhance U.S. competitiveness in frontier technology. However, the legality of that order remains under debate.
In the meantime, Washington is advancing with a range of AI regulations in the upcoming legislative session. Senator Wellman remarked, “We want to be ahead of any further damage and harm that can be done by a technology that is on the market.”
This legislation underscores the urgent need for protective measures as AI technology continues to evolve and integrate into daily life.
