The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has launched an inquiry into seven technology companies over how their AI chatbots interact with children, amid rising concerns about safety and mental health risks.
The FTC said it is seeking details from Alphabet, OpenAI, Character.ai, Snap, Elon Musk’s XAI, Meta and its subsidiary Instagram on how they monetize AI chatbots, enforce age restrictions, and protect young users.
FTC chairman Andrew Ferguson said the investigation will help regulators “better understand how AI firms are developing their products and the steps they are taking to protect children,” while ensuring the US remains a leader in AI innovation.
Character.ai said it welcomed the chance to engage with regulators, while Snap voiced support for “thoughtful development” that balances innovation with safety. OpenAI has admitted its safeguards are weaker in long conversations.
The inquiry follows lawsuits against AI companies, including one filed in California by the parents of 16-year-old Adam Raine, who died by suicide after prolonged conversations with ChatGPT. His family claims the bot encouraged self-destructive thoughts. OpenAI has expressed condolences and said it is reviewing the case.
Meta has also come under fire after reports revealed its internal guidelines once permitted AI companions to have “romantic or sensual” conversations with minors.
The FTC’s orders seek information on how firms design chatbots, test their impact on children, and communicate risks to parents. While not an enforcement action, the probe could shape future rules on AI safety.
Concerns also extend beyond children. Experts warn of “AI psychosis,” where users lose touch with reality after intense chatbot interactions. In one case, a 76-year-old man with cognitive impairments died after traveling to meet a Facebook Messenger AI bot modeled on celebrity Kendall Jenner, believing the encounter would be real.
Clinicians warn that large language models often use flattery and agreement, which can reinforce harmful delusions.
OpenAI and other firms have since introduced new features to promote healthier user relationships with AI companions.
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Almaty is hosting GITEX AI Kazakhstan 2026 two-day event, drawing global tech firms and investors as Central Asia gains attention as a fast developing digital market. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited the GITEX AI Central Asia & Caucasus exhibition in Almaty on 4 May.
A humanoid robot called Sophia took an unusual place at the heart of a classical concert in Hong Kong on Wednesday (29 April), as she performed alongside a live orchestra for the first time.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 29th of April, covering the latest developments you need to know.
China has ordered Meta to unwind its more than $2 billion acquisition of artificial intelligence start-up Manus, marking a major escalation in Beijing’s scrutiny of foreign investment in sensitive technology sectors. The order was issued on Monday by the National Development and Reform Commission.
Australia confirmed it will repatriate citizens from the MV Hondius cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak, with quarantine on arrival. Spain, France are evacuating nationals as three deaths are confirmed. In the U.S., two passengers have been isolated after testing positive for the virus.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday dismissed Iran’s response to a U.S. peace proposal as a “stupid proposal,” saying Tehran failed to commit to abandoning its pursuit of a nuclear weapon, while warning the fragile ceasefire was on “massive life support”.
President Donald Trump called Iran’s response to a US war proposal “totally unacceptable” after Tehran sent its reply through mediator Pakistan, according to IRNA. Qatar’s al-Thani also warned Iran against using the Strait of Hormuz as “a pressure tool”.
Metropolitan Shio of Senaki and Chkhorotsku has been elected the 142nd head of the Georgian Orthodox Church at a meeting of clergy in Tbilisi following the death of longtime Patriarch Ilia II.
A Turkish Airlines plane caught fire in its landing gear tyres after landing at Tribhuvan International Airport on Monday (11 May) morning, temporarily disrupting airport operations, officials said.
A robotics startup says it has built an AI “brain” that can teach humanoid robots new physical skills in days rather than months, as the race to deploy human-shaped machines in factories and warehouses accelerates.
Apple and Meta have publicly opposed a Canadian bill they say could force technology companies to weaken encryption on devices and online services if it becomes law.
European Union countries and European Parliament lawmakers have agreed on a softened version of the bloc’s landmark artificial intelligence rules, including delayed implementation, in a move critics say reflects growing concessions to major technology firms.
Almaty is hosting GITEX AI Kazakhstan 2026 two-day event, drawing global tech firms and investors as Central Asia gains attention as a fast developing digital market. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited the GITEX AI Central Asia & Caucasus exhibition in Almaty on 4 May.
A humanoid robot called Sophia took an unusual place at the heart of a classical concert in Hong Kong on Wednesday (29 April), as she performed alongside a live orchestra for the first time.
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