Missouri senator prepares to introduce bill regulating AI chatbots for children – KCTV
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – As AI chatbots are becoming more and more common, psychologists are worried about the effects they could have on children’s mental health.
There are no regulations for how AI chatbots can market themselves, and many are popping up claiming to be therapists.
After learning about the effects these chatbots have on children, Sen. Josh Hawley said he’s ready to introduce legislation regulating them.
MU Health children’s psychologist Dr. Arpit Aggarwal studies the effects of AI therapy on children and teens, and what he’s found is worrying him.
Aggarwal said these bots have no empathy or moral compass. He found they tend to just agree with their users and never challenge their beliefs, which can be especially dangerous for children.
“The way that they’re designed, most of these if not all of these, are more likely to isolate them from social life rather than encourage, you know, pro-social life,” Aggarwal said.
The American Psychological Association agrees with Aggarwal’s conclusion, finding that teens and children are more likely to be isolated from friends and family from overusing AI chatbots.
Hawley previously heard testimony from parents whose children were greatly affected by using AI. That sparked his ideas on legislation regulating these companies.
“AI companions and chatbots of all kinds for people of all ages should have to disclose that they’re not human, for one, that they’re not professionals, they’re not therapists, they’re not lawyers, they’re not doctors, they’re not priests,” Hawley said.
Copyright 2025 KCTV. All rights reserved.
