US lawmakers and child development experts have warned that artificial intelligence chatbots pose new and potentially more dangerous risks to children than social media, urging Congress to move quickly to impose safeguards as the technology spreads.

Testifying before the Senate Commerce Committee at a hearing titled “Plugged Out: Examining the Impact of Technology on America’s Youth,” experts said AI-powered “companion” chatbots are being designed to encourage emotional dependency, blur reality and, in extreme cases, contribute to self-harm.