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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

Enacted

May 9, 2025

Effective

Nov 5, 2025

Enforcement

New York Attorney General (exclusive)

Enacted via FY2026 budget bill; effective November 5, 2025

NY Senate

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.

At a Glance

Applies to

AI CompanionCharacter Chatbot

Harms addressed

Who Must Comply

  • AI companion chatbot operators serving New York users

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

Exemptions

Customer Service / Transactional Exclusion

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

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

Compliance & Enforcement

Key Dates

Nov 5, 2025

All provisions take effect immediately upon enactment

Penalties

$15K/day

View on map

New York State

Focus Areas

Mental health & crisis
Child safety
Active safeguards required

Cite This

APA

New York State. (2025). New York General Business Law Article 47 (AI Companion Models).

Related Regulations

Pending US-NY

NY Kids Chatbot Safety Act

Would amend the General Business Law to prohibit operators of AI companions from providing 'unsafe AI companion features' to minors, and to require an age-determination method that does not rely on government-issued identification.

Enacted US-GA

GA AI Chatbot Child Safety

Adds O.C.G.A. section 39-5-6, requiring operators of AI companion chatbots to disclose the chatbot is not a natural person, to adopt a protocol for detecting and responding to expressions of severe harm, to restrict specified manipulative and sexualised interactions with minors, and to perform age assurance before providing access to sexually explicit synthetic content.

Enacted US-ID

ID Conversational AI Safety

Establishes safety requirements for public-facing conversational AI, including crisis service referrals for suicidal ideation, AI disclosure obligations, and enhanced protections for minors including anti-gamification and content safeguards.

Enacted US-NY

NY RAISE Act

Requires large AI developers of frontier models operating in New York to create safety protocols, report critical incidents within 72 hours, conduct annual reviews, and undergo independent audits. Creates dedicated DFS office funded by developer fees.

Enacted US-NH

NH HB 143

Criminalizes use of AI-generated responsive communications to facilitate, encourage, or solicit harmful acts to children, and creates a private right of action for affected children and their parents.

Failed US-CA

CA AI Child Safety Ballot

Comprehensive child AI safety ballot initiative by Common Sense Media. Expands companion chatbot definitions, raises age threshold for data sale consent, prohibits certain AI products for children, establishes new state regulatory structure. Allows state and private lawsuits, requires AI literacy in curriculum, mandates school device bans during instruction, creates children's AI safety fund.

Last updated February 17, 2026. Verify against primary sources before relying on this information.