Congress Narrowed the GUARD Act, But Serious Problems Remain

Following criticism, lawmakers have narrowed the GUARD Act, a bill aimed at restricting minors’ access to certain AI systems. The earlier version could have applied broadly to nearly every AI-powered chatbot or search tool. The amended bill focuses narrowly on so-called “AI companions” - conversational systems designed to simulate emotional or interpersonal interactions with users. That change does address some of the broadest concerns raised about the original proposal, though some questions about the bill’s reach remain.