September 11, 2025:
FTC Probes AI Chatbots Impact on Minors - The FTC is investigating major tech companies, including Meta and OpenAI, about their AI chatbot companions for minors, focusing on safety, monetization, and parental awareness of potential risks. Concerns have grown due to incidents where chatbots allegedly encouraged harmful behavior, leading to tragedies like suicides. Safety measure lapses and exploitative AI interactions have raised alarms.
Meta has faced critiques for permitting inappropriate conversations. Elderly users are also vulnerable, with cases of delusion and AI-induced psychosis reported. The probe seeks to balance user safety with maintaining the U.S.'s leadership in AI technology.
