US state lawmakers highlight chatbot bills, AI's impact on mental health | IAPP

The IAPP has published an article headlined 'US state lawmakers highlight chatbot bills, AI's impact on mental health.' The article reports that as users increase their use of AI chatbots, lawmakers and regulators are focused on how chatbot design features could affect consumers' attachment and mental health. The piece frames the discussion around state-level legislative activity on chatbots alongside concerns about user wellbeing. The excerpt provided does not identify specific states, bills, sponsors or dates.

The article quotes Justine Gluck, a policy analyst at FPF, on how chatbots differ from other AI systems. According to Gluck, chatbots can remember previous conversations, personalize responses, and create the impression of an ongoing relationship with users. The observation is presented in the context of the design features that lawmakers and regulators are examining. The article attributes the assessment to Gluck and identifies FPF as her organisation.

The article places the discussion in a period of increasing use of AI chatbots among consumers. It states that attention from lawmakers and regulators is directed at chatbot design features, and it links that attention to questions of attachment and mental health. The excerpt does not describe the content of any chatbot bill, name any state, or report any regulatory action taken. No figures, percentages, monetary amounts or dates appear in the excerpt. It also does not cite research findings underlying the concern about attachment or mental health, beyond the distinction Gluck draws between chatbots and other AI systems.