A new state law prohibits companies from offering AI companion chatbots to anyone younger than 18. The measure makes New York one of the first states to place an age restriction on AI companions. It builds on another state law regulating AI companion models that took effect in November 2025. One school leader said she was especially troubled to learn that students were discussing mental health struggles with AI. How Parents Can Start the ConversationDiscovering that your teenager has been sharing personal thoughts with a chatbot could be frightening.