Concerns grow over access for youth to AI chatbots designed to simulate sexual intimacy – KMYU
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by Jim Spiewak, KUTV
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SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — As tech companies roll out romantic chatbots capable of flirty, even explicit interactions, Utah lawmakers are preparing for what some call the next frontier of online intimacy.
It’s already raising flags over emotional harm and access for minors.
“This world is just moving too fast,” said Selena Morales, a mother of a 9-year-old. She monitors her son’s screen time closely but knows the world he’s stepping into is changing rapidly.
“I pray for my babies all the time,” she said, worried that what’s now niche tech could soon become normal.
These chatbots, designed to simulate relationships and even sexual intimacy, are marketed to responsible adults, but experts warn that the lines are blurry. Brandon Amacher, director of the Emerging Tech Policy Lab at Utah Valley University, said these AI companions are engineered for emotional engagement and retention.
“You're starting to see young people become emotionally dependent on these chatbots,” Amacher said, warning that the relationship could become a “hit of instant gratification” that stunts real-life emotional development.
One major player, Character.AI, recently cut off open-ended chats for users under 18. Meanwhile, OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is taking a different stance. CEO Sam Altman said adults will soon be able to access erotic features under what he calls a “treat adults like adults” policy. Microsoft’s AI division says it won’t offer any such features at all.
Sen. Todd Weiler, who has long pushed for legislation protecting minors from adult content, said it’s not surprising the adult entertainment industry is testing AI’s limits.
“The porn industry has always kind of been on the front of new technologies,” he said.
While current Utah laws already require age verification for porn sites and restrict minors' access to social media, Weiler believes more legislation could be needed, especially when it comes to text-based chatbot interactions.
“That is one of the areas that we probably need new legislation on,” he said. He’s also concerned about apps that evolve over time. “If that AI is now showing their kids porn, and the parents gave their permissions or downloaded that software six months ago, a year ago, that would be my primary concern.”
Weiler expects the issue to surface during the upcoming 2026 legislative session, calling it a matter of when, not if.
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