NY GBL Art. 47

New York General Business Law Article 47 (AI Companion Models)

Requires AI companion chatbot operators to implement protocols addressing suicidal ideation and self-harm, plus periodic disclosures and reminders to users. Uses three-part CONJUNCTIVE definition (all three criteria must be met). No private right of action—AG enforcement only.

Jurisdiction

New York State

US-NY

Enacted

May 9, 2025

Effective

Nov 5, 2025

Enforcement

New York Attorney General (exclusive)

Enacted via FY2026 budget bill; effective November 5, 2025

What It Requires

Crisis Resources

Must surface relevant helplines when risk is detected

Transparency

Must disclose AI nature, data practices, or algorithmic decisions

Harms Addressed

Suicide

Suicidal ideation, suicide planning, or suicide attempts

Self-Harm

Non-suicidal self-injury or self-harm behaviors

Who Must Comply

This law applies to:

• AI companion chatbot operators serving New York users

Capability triggers:

● Cross-session memory (required)

◐ Persona or character (increases)

◐ Therapeutic language (increases)

● Emotional interaction (required)

● Unprompted emotion questions (required)

● Required ◐ Increases applicability

Who bears obligations:

Operator Deployer

This regulation places direct obligations on deployers (organizations using AI systems).

Exemptions

Customer Service / Transactional Exclusion

high confidence

Systems used by a business entity SOLELY INTENDED to provide users with commercial/product info, customer account info, or customer relationship info.

Conditions:

• Used by a business entity
• SOLELY INTENDED for commercial/product info, customer account info, or customer relationship info
• Does not build companion relationship

"Solely intended" focuses on intent vs California's "used only for" which focuses on actual use. Both are narrow exemptions.

Safety Provisions

• "Reasonable efforts" protocol for detecting suicidal ideation and self-harm (ALL users)
• Protocol must also address physical harm to others and financial harm
• Beginning-of-conversation notification + every 3 hours for continuing interactions
• Required disclosure text: "THE AI COMPANION IS A COMPUTER PROGRAM AND NOT A HUMAN BEING. IT IS UNABLE TO FEEL HUMAN EMOTION."
• Disclosure format: verbal OR bold/capitalized text ≥16pt
• Crisis referrals including 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
• Biannual reporting to Department of State

Compliance Timeline

Nov 5, 2025

All provisions take effect immediately upon enactment

Enforcement

Enforced by

New York Attorney General (exclusive)

Penalties

$15K/day

Per day: $15,000

Up to $15,000 per day (AG enforcement only). No private right of action.

Primary Source

NY Senate (opens in new tab)

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/GBS/1700

Quick Facts

Binding: Yes
Mental Health Focus: Yes
Child Safety Focus: Yes
Algorithmic Scope: No

Why It Matters

Uses three-part CONJUNCTIVE test—ALL THREE criteria must be met (memory/personalization, unprompted emotion questions, sustained personal dialogue). More specific than California's capability-based approach. NO video game exemption unlike California.

Recent Developments

Effective November 5, 2025 (180 days after May 9, 2025 signing). Governor Hochul sent letters to AI companion companies notifying them safeguards are now in effect.

What You Need to Comply

You need: "reasonable efforts" protocol for crisis detection (documentation + testing + monitoring shows good faith); notification system for session start and 3-hour intervals; mechanisms to provide mental health resources when risk detected.

NOPE can help

Cite This

APA

New York State. (2025). New York General Business Law Article 47 (AI Companion Models). Retrieved from https://nope.net/regs/us-ny-article47

BibTeX

@misc{us_ny_article47,
  title = {New York General Business Law Article 47 (AI Companion Models)},
  author = {New York State},
  year = {2025},
  url = {https://nope.net/regs/us-ny-article47}
}

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