February 10, 2026
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FROM SEN GILLIBRAND:
Today, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), the top Democrat on the Senate Aging Committee, and Aging Committee Chairman Rick Scott (R-FL) urged the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to examine the growing impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on older Americans, including the unique risks seniors face when using AI chatbots.
In a letter to FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson, the senators highlighted the unique risks that artificial intelligence poses to older adults and people with disabilities and called on the FTC to thoroughly review the impact of AI-enabled chatbots on these populations. The senators also requested a briefing on the FTC’s inquiry into generative AI companions and urged the Commission to broaden the scope of that inquiry to include older Americans and individuals with disabilities.
“Artificial intelligence can offer real benefits for older Americans and people with disabilities, but its rapid integration into everyday technologies raises important questions about safety and risk,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Older Americans face heightened risks when using AI chatbots, and we must fully understand those dangers and look closely at how this technology is being developed and used. As the top Democrat on the Senate Aging Committee, I will keep fighting to make sure the emerging risks of these technologies are carefully examined and that older Americans benefit from innovation without being put at risk.”
“Artificial intelligence can be a powerful tool for aging Americans, helping them live more independent, healthy lives, but it also raises real safety concerns,” said Senator Scott. “Strong safeguards must be in place to protect seniors, children, and families from deception and misuse. I am encouraged that the FTC is already taking steps to examine AI’s impact on children and teens. As chairman, I am proud to join Ranking Member Gillibrand in urging that this work be expanded to include older Americans and individuals with disabilities. Together, we will work to ensure aging Americans can benefit from new technologies without putting themselves or their financial security at risk.”
“We request that the FTC thoroughly review the impacts of AI-enabled chatbots on older adults and people with disabilities. We also request a briefing on the FTC’s inquiry into generative AI companions and the possibility of expanding that inquiry to consider the effect of AI companions on older adults and people with disabilities,” the senators wrote.
The senators also warned of the growing risk AI poses in facilitating scams that target seniors, writing, “With the development of generative AI, scammers have been able to commit fraud on a larger scale with increased believability. In 2025, an investigation by Reuters and Harvard University revealed how easily AI-powered chatbots can be manipulated to craft convincing phishing emails, even with built-in safety features. Accordingly, the FTC should also examine whether AI companion products are being designed with the guardrails needed to discourage fraud and scams.”
The letter builds on Senator Gillibrand’s ongoing work to address the emerging risks of artificial intelligence and protect seniors. She has previously pressed major tech and social media companies to combat the spread of non-consensual, sexualized AI-generated images on their platforms and strengthen protections for minors. On the Senate Aging Committee, Gillibrand has led the fight to protect seniors from frauds and scams, raised awareness about predatory scammers targeting seniors, and demanded answers from those attempting to cut funding for agencies like the CFPB. She has also introduced legislation such as the National Strategy for Combating Scams Act, the Stop the Scammers Act, the Senior Financial Empowerment Act, the Guarding Unprotected Aging Retirees from Deception (GUARD) Act, and the DO NOT CALL Act, as well as the SNAP Theft Protection Act, the core of which was passed into law in 2022.
