Comment by Cynthia Rudin

Chatbots are an extraordinarily powerful technology. They are designed to be persuasive and engaging, which also means they can be deceptive. To receive useful answers, users often share personal information with chatbots, creating the potential for highly manipulative systems that possess extensive knowledge about our lives. The People-First Chatbot Act seeks to address these risks by reducing deceptive chatbot practices, strengthening user privacy protections, and preventing companies from selling personal information obtained through chatbot interactions. It also aims to prohibit the use of personal data to manipulate consumers into purchasing products they do not need or to maximize prices based on an individual's willingness to pay. Finally, the Act includes protections to limit the collection and exploitation of children's data through chatbot interactions.