The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is preparing to study how artificial intelligence chatbots are affecting the mental health of children, a move that will include requesting documents from OpenAI and other AI companies.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the FTC is expected to evaluate whether ChatGPT and other popular chatbots pose risks to children. The agency, which focuses on antitrust and consumer protection regulations, is preparing to issue letters requiring tech companies to hand over documents relevant to the investigation. The White House has approved the initiative.
The decision comes amid mounting pressure from parents and advocacy groups concerned about the dangers AI poses to children in a world already dominated by social media. Several tragic cases have drawn attention, including incidents where teenagers committed suicide after forming relationships with chatbots.
On Thursday, First Lady Melania Trump hosted a meeting centered on AI education. Earlier this year, she also supported legislation targeting deepfakes.
“As leaders and parents, we must manage AI’s growth responsibly,” Melania said. “During this primitive stage, it is our duty to treat AI as we would our own children—empowering, but with watchful guidance.”
The Wall Street Journal noted that discussions over regulation are complicated inside the White House, with some officials arguing that restrictions could slow US progress in the AI race against China and limit potential economic benefits.
White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement, “President Trump pledged to cement America’s dominance in AI, cryptocurrency and other cutting-edge technologies of the future. FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson and the entire administration are focused on delivering on this mandate without compromising the safety and well-being of the American people.”
OpenAI recently announced it would introduce teen accounts with parental oversight features. The move comes after the company and CEO Sam Altman were sued by the parents of a teenager who took his own life after developing an intimate relationship with ChatGPT.
