The Federal Trade Commission has launched a new inquiry into chatbot products designed to act as companions as U.S. officials take more interest in generative artificial intelligence‘s role in daily life.
Announced on Thursday, the FTC said it issued orders to seven companies that make consumer-facing AI chatbots to provide detailed information on the metrics surrounding how these chatbots’s safety is measured. Officials are seeking measuring, testing and monitoring protocols employed by these companies that gauge if their chatbots negatively impact the mental health of child and teen users. The final vote among commissioners was 3-0 in favor of issuing the orders.
“Protecting kids online is a top priority for the Trump-Vance FTC, and so is fostering innovation in critical sectors of our economy,” FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson said in a press release. “As AI technologies evolve, it is important to consider the effects chatbots can have on children, while also ensuring that the United States maintains its role as a global leader in this new and exciting industry. The study we’re launching today will help us better understand how AI firms are developing their products and the steps they are taking to protect children.”
The seven companies required to submit information to the FTC include Alphabet; OpenAI; Character Technologies; Instagram; Meta Platforms; Snap; and X.AI.
The FTC will be looking into the companies’ procedures for mitigating the harmful impacts chatbot use can have on minors, in addition to helping parents and other users understand the risks associated with chatbot usage. Some of the metrics FTC officials ask for include if companies monetize user engagement; mitigate negative impacts; offer disclosures to users on how the chatbot operates; and engage in sensitive data management.
The impacts chatbots have on their users, particularly minors, have been questioned among regulators recently, with House lawmakers hearing testimony last week from psychology experts on what legislative parameters should be enacted to encourage safe use of chatbots.
Following the FTC’s announcement, Reps. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., and Frank Pallone, D-N.J. — the chair and ranking member, respectively, of the House Energy and Commerce Committee — issued a joint statement applauding the agency’s decision.
“While some AI chatbot providers are taking steps to address such horrific and disturbing instances, additional investigation is needed to ensure children and teens are not in danger when using these services,” they said. “We strongly support this action by the FTC and urge the agency to consider the tools at its disposal to protect children from online harms. We are also hopeful Congress will be able to build on this work with durable, bipartisan legislation to protect children online and empower parents.”
