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By DEVI SHASTRI

In the absence of stronger federal regulation, some states have begun regulating apps that offer AI “therapy” as more people turn to artificial intelligence for mental health advice.

But the laws, all passed this year, don’t fully address the fast-changing landscape of AI software development. And app developers, policymakers and mental health advocates say the resulting patchwork of state laws isn’t enough to protect users or hold the creators of harmful technology accountable.

“The reality is millions of people are using these tools and they’re not going back,” said Karin Andrea Stephan, CEO and co-founder of the mental health chatbot app Earkick.

EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org.

The state laws take different approaches. Illinois and Nevada have banned the use of AI to treat mental health. Utah placed certain limits on therapy chatbots, including requiring them to protect users’ health information and to clearly disclose that the chatbot isn’t human. Pennsylvania, New Jersey and California are also considering ways to regulate AI therapy. read more

By KELVIN CHAN, AP Business Writer

LONDON (AP) — OpenAI said Monday it’s adding parental controls to ChatGPT that are designed to provide teen users of the popular platform with a safer and more “age-appropriate” experience.

The company is taking action after AI chatbot safety for young users has hit the headlines. The technology’s dangers have been recently highlighted by a number of cases in which teenagers took their lives after interacting with ChatGPT.

In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission has even opened an inquiry into several tech companies about the potential harms to children and teenagers who use their AI chatbots as companions.

In a blog post posted Monday, OpenAI outlined the new controls for parents. Here is a breakdown:

Getting started

The parental controls will be available to all users, but both parents and teens will need their own accounts to take advantage of them.

To get started, a parent or guardian needs to send an email or text message to invite a teen to connect their accounts. Or a teenager can send an invite to a parent. Users can send a request by going into the settings menu and then to the “Parental controls” section. read more

A Sanford woman has reached a settlement agreement with theme park giant Universal Orlando just two days after filing a lawsuit that claimed she suffered bad whiplash, severe headaches and permanent injuries months after riding the Stardust Racers ride at Epic Universe.

The rollercoaster is the same ride that Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, 32, rode moments before he died on Sept. 17.

Details of the private settlement were not revealed in court documents filed late Friday.

A Universal spokeswoman said in an email to the Orlando Sentinel on Monday that the theme park does not “comment on pending claims.”

In her lawsuit filed in Orange County on Sept. 24, Sandi Streets, 49, said her head “shook violently and slammed into her seat’s headrest” for the duration of the two-minute ride.

She rode the roller coaster on April 30. As an annual passholder, Streets had the opportunity to visit the new Epic Universe park before it opened to the public on May 22.

Streets’ attorney, Nicholas Spetsas of Orlando, said last Thursday that Streets began suffering severe headaches and a sore neck after the ride and the pain continued months afterward. Streets initially figured it was dehydration and exhaustion after spending the day at the theme park. read more

Walt Disney World has set the 2026 dates and attractions for its After Hours events at Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot theme parks.

The three-hour sessions are held on select evenings after the regular park closes, although After Hours attendees can get into the parks as early as 7 p.m. They are separately ticketed events. Prices vary with parks and dates, ranging between $155 and $199 per person. Tickets include select snacks such as popcorn, ice cream novelties and bottled beverages. Park reservations are not required for the After Hours events.

Ticket sales open to the general public on Oct. 14.

Disney plans 18 After Hours events for Magic Kingdom between Jan. 12 and July 27.  Among the listed attractions for the evenings are three roller coasters — Space Mountain, Tron Lightcycle / Run and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train as well as four additional Fantasyland rides, including Mad Tea Party, Peter Pan’s Flight, “it’s a small world” and Under the Sea — Journey of the Little Mermaid. read more

By Kimberly Palmer, NerdWallet

The investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. NerdWallet, Inc. does not offer advisory or brokerage services, nor does it recommend or advise investors to buy or sell particular stocks, securities or other investments.

When I shared personal finance lessons with a kindergarten class recently, the students had one question I wasn’t prepared to answer: How should they fit donating money to others into their financial plans?

I had been so focused on explaining the basics of budgeting that I overlooked this central question about how we can help others, especially as the holidays approach.

It turns out deciding how much of our budget to allocate to giving isn’t always straightforward. Charity varies widely by person and income levels.

“Some clients are very charitably-inclined and others not so much,” says John Jones, a certified financial planner and investment advisor representative at Heritage Financial in Newberry, Florida. The decision to give can be influenced by many aspects, from religious beliefs to the potential tax deductions. read more