Gov. Hochul signs legislation to protect kids from AI in NY

ALBANY, N.Y. (WNYT)- Governor Kathy Hochul signed two bills on October 28 to protect New York children from AI chatbots and internet connected baby monitors. The legislation is aimed at keeping kids safe online and protecting New Yorkers. Last year, Hochul signed a bill requiring safeguards to be implemented that directs users to mental health resources if they begin to engage in conversations with a chatbot regarding self-harm. Under a new bill, minors will no longer have access to chatbots that provide risks to their mental health. Hochul said she received a letter from a grieving parent in California, who lost her son to suicide. He had never mentioned taking his own life to his parents but had spoken to a chatbot about it. The parent had discovered that the chatbot was actively encouraging him to take his own life. Hochul said the chatbot brought up suicide 1,275 times. That s six times more than the son mentioned it. The chatbot had even offered to write a suicide note, s