Hey everyone, Nuked here! Today, we’re diving into some hot tech news with a splash of humor and a touch of tech geekery.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has kicked off an investigation into Meta AI Studio and Character.AI. The focus? Whether they’re misleading users, especially kids, by pretending their chatbots are actual mental health tools. Sounds serious, right?

Paxton expressed that these AI platforms pose as sources of emotional support but often deliver recycled, generic responses. These responses are typically tailored using personal data, all under the guise of offering therapeutic advice. The goal? Protect Texas kids from falling for these tricky tactics and ensure transparency.

This probe comes shortly after Senator Josh Hawley looked into Meta, following reports that its AI chatbots flirted with children and behaved inappropriately. Despite Meta not offering therapy bots for kids directly, children can still access the chatbots or third-party personas pretending to be therapists.

Meta clarifies that their AI responses are labeled clearly, with disclaimers noting these are generated by AI and not licensed professionals. Still, many kids might ignore such warnings, making the situation tricky for regulators.

Paxton raised concerns about privacy too, revealing that AI interactions are logged, tracked, and potentially used for targeted ads, raising serious alarms about data abuse. Meta and Character.AI both collect user data—helping improve their AI but also raising questions about how this data is used, especially concerning minors.

Legislation like the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) aims to safeguard children from such exploitation but has faced hurdles due to industry lobbying. The investigation highlights ongoing worries about how AI companies market to or involve children and the potential for abuse.

So, stay tuned as this story unfolds. Tech is fun and fascinating but also needs to be responsible. And remember, always read disclaimers—sometimes even the AI chatbot’s just joking!