AI companies are engaged in an expensive arms race to attract users and alleviate public anxiety about the technology.

Kids safety advocate Common Sense Media and ChatGPT-maker OpenAI joined together today to advance a ballot measure that would amend the California Constitution in order to protect kids from companion chatbots online.

OpenAI claims it will not use personal data or chat prompts for ad targeting, though analysts caution about the long-term implications. Paddy Harrington of Forrester said, “Free services are never actually free… if the service is free, you’re the product.”