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COLUMBIA, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) – Artificial intelligence is no longer futuristic. It’s a part of everyday life, from customer service chats to homework help and emotional support.
As more kids interact with AI chatbots daily, South Carolina lawmakers want to set boundaries on how that technology can be used, worried it can negatively impact kids.
Lawmakers say the state needs to regulate AI, including what conversations it can have with children and what data it collects.
“The dangers embedded in the rise of AI and chatbots are not the arena in which to give kids free reign,” Charleston Sen. Matt Leber said.
In a world of evolving technology and the rise of artificial intelligence, Leber said it’s time to rein it in.
“AI chatbots can create emotional dependency and unhealthy attachments and may even manipulate users for profit driven engagement,” Leber said.
Pew Research finds 67% of teens use AI chatbots. Thirty percent use one every day, and 12% turn to them for emotional support.
That worries mother Kimberly Long.
“The chat bots also distort a teens understanding of empathy by the aps robotic disconnected validation of of everything said to it, that’s not real life,” said Long, of Mothers Against Media Addiction.
Several Senate bills would block bots from giving kids emotional advice or holding long conversations. The bills would also limit what data AI platforms can collect and sell.
Users would have to opt in before a platform could store their data or allow full bot access.
“It does put responsibility on the companies to make sure their AI is not going to be used in nefarious ways purposefully programmed to be harmful to our consumers,” Leber said.
But businesses and banks are concerned the bill impacts chatbots they use programmed only for customer service. Kristina Hinson of the SC Retail Association asked for exceptions.
“To make sure that businesses can continue to offer efficient effective customer service to their customers without requiring additional time-consuming account creations,” Hinson said.
Lawmakers did not hold a vote on either bill so they could make some changes to ensure the business community does not receive unintended consequences from this bill. They say the bill will appear in another subcommittee hearing in the near future.
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