Breaking Down The CHAT Act, A Step Toward Federal Rules on AI Companions

In recent months, United States lawmakers have turned their attention to a fast-growing area of artificial intelligence: companions — chatbots that simulate friendship, mentorship or even romantic relationships. With the rise of systems capable of emotional and personalized engagement and several tragic suicides linked to interactions with such products, policymakers are increasingly concerned about their impact on minors.

A recent survey by Common Sense Media found that 72% of teenagers aged 13 to 17 have used an AI companion, and more than half do so regularly. Another study released by dating app company Match found that 16% of adult US singles have interacted with an AI companion as a romantic partner, with that figure rising to 33% among Gen Z users. While these systems can simulate providing emotional support or carrying a conversation, the psychological risks of dependency and and on social development are significant — especially for vulnerable groups such as minors.

Seton Hall law professor Gaia Bernstein warns that the “window of opportunity is now” and that failing to act could repeat the regulatory mistakes made with social media. Similarly, the American Psychological Association (APA) has urged developers and policymakers to establish healthy boundaries in simulated human relationships.

Amid this rising scrutiny, one notable federal proposal has emerged as a potential vehicle to tackle these concerns, known as the Children Harmed by AI Technology, or CHAT, Act (S. 2714).