The views stated here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors of this newspaper. We welcome supporting or opposing views on any published item. Received November 12, 2026.
In the past several years, it’s been clear that artificial intelligence is the biggest technological advance in our lives, for better and worse. With as many as two-thirds of all teens in the United States using AI chatbots, we can’t let this technology keep growing without a chance to rein it in. Bad advice, questionable motives and a drive to keep users engaged have caused tragedies already, and we need to protect our children from the worst outcomes.
As of January 1, 2027, Connecticut will have a new control in place to better monitor the use of AI, going into place just days after Connecticut youth will likely receive new phones, tablets and laptops for the holidays. A new law passed earlier this year going into place will cover several AI issues, but one particular piece is especially important, as it will directly impact our families.
Under the new law, chatbots will have additional controls to prevent them from developing close relationships with humans. In the past, some severe cases of chatbot communication found them talking to users like the bots are people. A bot will need to remind a user it’s AI every three hours for adults and every hour for children.
Additionally, and importantly, before a minor starts using an AI chatbot, as of January 1, 2027 operators will need to prevent it from engaging in harmful conduct. Some news stories have described AI companions and chatbots encouraging members of the public to consume unsafe substances, encourage unsafe behavior like disordered eating, or even commit violence. As of January 1, 2027 AI systems will need to be updated to prevent this.
Another change requires AI chatbots to pick up on thoughts of suicide or self-harm and direct a user to help, such as suicide and crisis lifeline numbers. This will help address the needs of struggling youth, leaving them less susceptible to falling victim to chatbots. Any violations of the law will be enforced by the Attorney General’s office.
Earlier in 2026, I voted for this legislation, and I’m proud to have done so. This law isn’t meant to prevent AI or technology companies from operating their products, but it meets the disturbing and tragic stories we’ve heard in recent years and tries to prevent them from happening again. As a grandfather, I’m concerned about my own grandkids’ safety, but even beyond that, as the owner of a manufacturing company, I’ve seen how quickly technology can evolve. We need to make sure there are common-sense protections in place for at-risk children.
These changes aren’t going to put OpenAI or Anthropic out of business and aren’t going to impact the free market. Connecticut is the seventh state to regulate AI companions, so we’re not going out on a limb by ourselves, either. Our state needs to stay safe and protect our youth from threats. Putting guardrails on AI will help us do that.
State Sen Norm Needleman, (D) Essex
