It looks like lawmakers in the U.S. may be monitoring artificial intelligence (AI) more closely. U.S. regulators are increasingly scrutinizing AI companies over the potential negative impacts of chatbots.
In August, Reuters had reported how Meta’s AI rules allowed flirty conversations with kids.
AI chatbots in 2025 are advanced conversational agents powered by large language models like GPT-5. They interact using text, voice, and images, creating rich, multimodal experiences. These chatbots use emotional intelligence to detect user sentiment and adjust their tone, making interactions more natural and empathetic. They also retain memory across conversations to personalize responses based on user history.
However, the growing sophistication brings challenges. Prolonged use can lead to psychological risks such as emotional dependency and loneliness. Data privacy is a major concern, with chatbots handling sensitive personal information that must be protected. To address safety, companies are implementing parental controls and regulatory measures, especially to protect minors.
Under the new measures, parents will be able to reduce exposure to sensitive content, control whether ChatGPT remembers past chats, and decide if conversations can be used to train OpenAI’s models, the Microsoft-backed company said on X.
READ: California’s SB 53 could become the blueprint for U.S. AI regulation (July 10, 2025)
Despite these challenges, AI chatbots remain invaluable across industries, enhancing customer service, healthcare, education, and more, by providing fast, personalized, and accessible support. As they evolve, ethical use and safeguarding user well-being remain critical priorities.
Reportedly, in midst of increased accountability being demanded from AI companies, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed SB 53, a first-in-the-nation bill that sets new transparency requirements on large AI companies.
AI companies have stepped up efforts to protect teenagers interacting with chatbots following concerns about harmful content and psychological risks. OpenAI, for example, introduced parental controls for ChatGPT, allowing parents to link their accounts with their teen’s.
This enables parents to filter content, restrict access to voice and image generation features, and set usage limits. The system also sends safety alerts if it detects signs of distress or harmful behavior, while automatically providing an age-appropriate experience that blocks graphic or sexual content. In extreme cases, law enforcement can be involved to ensure teen safety. Similarly, Meta updated its chatbot guidelines to prevent conversations with teens on sensitive topics such as self-harm, suicide, and disordered eating, restricting teen access to AI characters that promote positive, educational, and creative interactions.
READ: Report reveals why 95% of companies can’t get AI right (August 20, 2025)
Other companies have adopted comparable approaches. Character.AI offers “Parental Insights,” a weekly summary for parents showing their teen’s chatbot interactions and time spent on the platform. Google’s Gemini chatbot has undergone safety evaluations, receiving a “High Risk” rating for younger users, prompting ongoing efforts to improve content moderation and appropriateness. Together, these measures illustrate a growing industry commitment to balancing AI innovation with ethical safeguards, aiming to protect teen users from emotional harm, inappropriate content, and privacy risks.
As AI technology continues to evolve, so too must the frameworks that govern its use. Enhanced parental controls, improved content moderation, and real-time safety alerts are just the beginning of protecting younger users in digital spaces. Policymakers are actively shaping regulations to address emerging challenges like emotional dependency and privacy breaches, ensuring AI tools serve the public good without causing harm.
Meanwhile, AI developers are prioritizing transparency and ethical design to build trust with users and regulators alike. This multifaceted approach underscores the importance of proactive, ongoing vigilance to create a safe, inclusive environment where AI can be a positive force for learning, creativity, and connection across generations.