Evidence & sources
Obligations- blocking disclosure: An operator must give a clear and conspicuous notification, at the start of an AI companion interaction and at least every three hours during continuing interaction, that the user is not communicating with a human.
"a clear and conspicuous notification to a user at the beginning of any AI companion interaction which need not exceed once per day and at least every three hours for continuing AI companion interactions ... that the user is not communicating with a human" (GBL §1702). - blocking crisis_protocol: An operator may not provide an AI companion without a protocol for detecting expressions of suicidal ideation or self-harm and referring the user to crisis services including the 988 hotline or a crisis text line.
"detection of user expressions of suicidal ideation or self-harm" with notification directing users to "the 9-8-8 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline ..., a crisis text line, or other appropriate crisis services" (GBL §1701).
Scope- applies_if_minor_accessible = true
"'User' means any person who uses an AI companion for personal use within the state and who is not an operator or agent or affiliate of the operator of the AI companion" (GBL §1700(8)); the definition carries no age floor and Article 47 has no minors exclusion. - applies_to_operator = any_person_or_business_entity_providing_an_AI_companion
"'Operator' means any person, partnership, association, firm, or business entity, or any member, affiliate, subsidiary or beneficial owner of any partnership, association, firm, or business entity who operates for or provides an AI companion to a user" (GBL §1700(5)). - covered_service = AI_companion
"AI companion" is a system simulating sustained human-like relationships by retaining interaction history, asking unprompted emotion-based questions, and sustaining personal dialogue (GBL §1700(4)). - exempts = customer_service_and_internal_business_systems
"AI companion" shall not include: (i) any system used by a business entity solely for customer service or to strictly provide users with information about available commercial services or products provided by such entity...; (ii) any system that is primarily designed and marketed for providing efficiency improvements or, research or technical assistance; or (iii) any system used by a business entity solely for internal purposes or employee productivity (GBL §1700(4)(c)).
Verified by CAW editor (seed review) on 2026-09-08T00:00:00Z
Archived copy: a71d5ec2387b… (retrieved 2026-11-04). Last checked 2026-11-04.
Live primary source: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/GBS/1700
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