Marketplace Tech A bill that bans kids from using AI chatbots is gaining momentum
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May 4, 2026 
Ashley Gold, senior tech policy reporter at Axios, explains the rising push for the GUARD Act and why lawmakers are focused on AI chatbots and minors. She outlines what the bill would ban, the legal and free-speech concerns critics raise, and how the measure could reshape business models for startups and big tech. Momentum comes from survivor testimony and high-profile harms tied to chatbot interactions.
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Broad Ban Targets Companion Chatbots
- The GUARD Act would ban companies from offering AI "companions" to anyone under 18, targeting chatbots that simulate interpersonal relationships.
- Ashley Gold notes the law excludes educational AI but casts a broad net around emotional or advisory chatbots, raising First Amendment concerns.
Vagueness Creates Legal And Safety Tensions
- Critics warn useful chatbot functions for kids, like emotional support or education, could be swept up by the ban.
- Ashley Gold points to vagueness around terms like "sexually explicit conduct" or solicitation of self-harm that could invite prosecutorial uncertainty.
Kids Are A Core Market For Engagement And Data
- For AI firms, user engagement equals revenue and training data, so excluding minors cuts a major growth and data source.
- Ashley Gold explains lost ad targeting, product sales, and learning signals that companies rely on.