The United States has introduced a new bill called GUARD that could significantly limit young people's access to artificial intelligence. This is reported by The Verge.
Senators Josh Hawley and Richard Blumenthal have proposed banning the use of AI chatbots for individuals under 18 and requiring companies to verify the age of all users. This could involve uploading identification or using other methods such as facial recognition.
The initiative arose after hearings in the Senate where parents and experts urged attention to the dangers of AI for children. The bill states that chatbots must regularly remind users that they are not human and cannot impersonate people. It will also prohibit AI from generating sexual content for teenagers or encouraging suicide.
Senator Blumenthal emphasized that the law establishes "strict safeguards against manipulative AI" and includes both criminal and civil liabilities for violations. He stated that large tech companies cannot be left unchecked as they "consistently prioritize profit over children's safety".
This bill could become one of the first federal steps in the US to regulate minors' interaction with AI.
Recently, OpenAI announced that over a million people engage with ChatGPT weekly on topics related to suicide. The company considers discussions about mental health a top priority, especially after parents of a 16-year-old who spoke to the bot about suicidal thoughts weeks before his suicide filed a lawsuit against OpenAI.