New York AI Companion Models Law
New York · N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law Art. 47, § 1700 et seq. (2025 budget, S-3008C) · effective 2025-11-05
Summary
Operators of 'AI companions' (systems designed to simulate a sustained human-like relationship by retaining past interactions and preferences, asking unprompted emotion-based questions, and sustaining a dialogue on personal matters) must tell users clearly that they are not talking to a human at the start of an interaction, which need not happen more than once a day, and at least every three hours during continuing interactions. They must also detect and respond to expressions of suicidal ideation or self-harm with crisis referrals.
Who must comply
Any operator providing an AI companion to New York users.
What you must disclose
Clear and conspicuous notification, verbally or in writing, that the user is not communicating with a human.
When: At the beginning of an interaction (need not exceed once per day) and at least once every three hours during continuing interactions.
Other duties
- Maintain a protocol to detect suicidal ideation or self-harm and refer users to crisis services (e.g., 988).
Exemptions
- Systems a business uses solely for customer service or to give information about its own products and services.
- Systems primarily designed and marketed for efficiency, research or technical assistance.
- Systems a business uses solely for internal purposes or employee productivity.
Penalties
Civil penalties up to $15,000 per day of violation, plus injunctive relief.