AI Companions Meet the Law: New York and California Draw the First Lines

Ling Kong addresses one of the fastest-moving issues in AI regulation in his new article published by Reuters, “AI Companions Meet the Law: New York and California Draw the First Lines.” As emotionally responsive AI companions move from novelty to mainstream—particularly among teens—Ling examines how New York and California are setting the first concrete legal guardrails, from crisis-response obligations and transparency requirements to heightened youth protections and private rights of action. He also explores how these state laws collide with emerging federal policy signals, creating real compliance uncertainty for developers and platforms.