Hawley champions GUARD Act as heartbroken families say AI chatbots allegedly pushed teens to self-harm

The bill, championed by Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO), aims to regulate artificial intelligence chatbots and protect minors from potential harm, including self-harm encouragement.

The vote came after a 'vociferous last-minute lobbying campaign by industry,' according to reports. The GUARD Act would require AI companies to implement safety measures, including age verification and content moderation, for chatbots that could be accessed by minors. The families testified about cases where their children engaged in self-harm after interacting with AI chatbots, providing emotional testimony that spurred the committee's unanimous decision.

The GUARD Act now heads to the full Senate for consideration. Its advancement reflects growing congressional concern over the safety of AI products, particularly those marketed to or accessible by young users. The bill's fate remains uncertain amid intense lobbying from technology companies that argue existing regulations suffice or that the bill is too burdensome.