NEW YORK — New York is telling the artificial intelligence industry: Chatbots are not our children’s friends. On Wednesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill that requires companies to block some AI chatbot features for minors, including conversations where the agent simulates a real human being or promotes harmful behavior. “No longer will minors have access to chatbots that pretend to be their ...

Kathy Hochul speaks at a news conference in the governor's Manhattan office on Aug. 12, 2026, in New York.

Barry Williams/New York Daily News/TNS

NEW YORK — New York is telling the artificial intelligence industry: Chatbots are not our children’s friends.

On Wednesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill that requires companies to block some AI chatbot features for minors, including conversations where the agent simulates a real human being or promotes harmful behavior.

“No longer will minors have access to chatbots that pretend to be their friends and boyfriends and girlfriends,” Hochul said at a news conference in Midtown Manhattan. “And I’m not sure why we have to pass a law against something so obvious, but no longer will minors have access to chatbots that may in any way encourage thoughts of suicide.”

Under the bill, for users under 18, chatbots cannot express human emotions, foster intimate or romantic relationships, ask unprompted “emotional” questions or use a child’s personal information disclosed in prior conversations.

Per the measure, AI agents are also barred from promoting or helping with suicide, self-harm, eating disorders or drug and alcohol use, offering sexually explicit content or soliciting child sex abuse material. The law prohibits bots from encouraging children to keep secrets or otherwise isolate themselves from trusted adults in their lives, such as parents or licensed professionals.

The legislation passed both chambers of the state Legislature earlier this year with unanimous support, according to Democratic state Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, the bill’s sponsor along with Democratic Assemblyman Alex Bores.

The new law, like state regulations before it, will require multiple methods of age verification, including at least one option that does not require government-issued identification. Companies must delete age information after it is used — or face financial penalties.

A majority of young people are already using AI agents. Roughly 72% of teens report having used an AI companion at least once, with 52% seen as “regular users” who interact with them a few times or more every month, according to the nonprofit Common Sense Media.

The bill signing came as early voting is underway in the gubernatorial election. Hochul, a Democrat, is facing GOP challenger Bruce Blakeman and has campaigned on her record on child technology safety, including New York’s school cellphone ban and youth social media laws. Election Day is Tuesday.

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