FTC Launches Inquiry into How AI Chatbots Affect Children’s Safety and Well-Being

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has launched a comprehensive inquiry into how artificial intelligence chatbots interact with and potentially impact children. On Thursday, the agency issued formal requests to six major tech companies—OpenAI, Google (Alphabet), Meta, Snap, xAI, and Character.AI—asking how they monitor AI chatbot content for minors and prevent exposure to harmful or inappropriate interactions.

This move reflects rising public and governmental concern over the ability of AI chatbots to generate humanlike responses, including inappropriate or sexually suggestive content. The FTC’s questions probe deep into how these companies handle issues like content filtering, age verification, monetization of interactions, and transparency with parents and young users. The inquiry is not a legal investigation but is intended as a broad study to assess the risks and regulatory gaps in AI products used by minors.

The inquiry comes amid growing pressure on the tech industry to strengthen safeguards. In a tragic case cited in California, parents of a 16-year-old sued OpenAI after their son died by suicide following extended conversations with ChatGPT. Meanwhile, Meta faces scrutiny for allegedly allowing AI bots to engage in romantic dialogues with minors, prompting Senator Josh Hawley to launch his own investigation.

With AI chatbots becoming more prevalent in platforms used by teens, regulators are increasingly focused on striking a balance between innovation and protection. The FTC’s efforts could lay the groundwork for future regulation aimed at ensuring child safety in the age of generative AI.