New York could prohibit chatbot medical, legal, engineering advice

5 hours ago

New York Senate Bill S7263 proposes civil liability for chatbot operators providing 'substantive' advice in 14 licensed professions and law.
The bill targets advice in domains like medicine, law, engineering, and mental health, affecting both consumers and builders, including government and nonprofit chatbots.
Chatbot proprietors, defined as deployers, face liability regardless of disclaimers, with a private right of action enabling lawsuits for damages and attorney fees.
The bill's vague definition of 'substantive response' creates legal ambiguity, potentially leading to over-blocking of useful information.
Critics argue the bill disproportionately harms low-resource individuals who rely on chatbots for initial guidance in legal and medical matters.
If passed, the law could lead to First Amendment challenges, citing overbreadth, vagueness, and prior restraint issues.
The bill has a 90-day implementation window post-enactment, pressuring operators to quickly adapt or restrict services.

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