Washington, July 27 -- Rep. Becca Balint issued the following press release:
U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL) today introduced the Addictive Design Act, legislation to protect young people from the mental health risks posed by AI chatbots designed to foster emotional attachment, compulsive use, and ultimately, addiction.
As AI chatbots become increasingly common in the lives of young people, a growing number of teenagers are turning to them for mental health support-even though most chatbots are not designed to respond safely to a youth experiencing a mental health crisis. At the same time, many AI chatbots use design features intended to keep users engaged and encourage them to form emotional relationships with the technology. ...