[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4916 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4916
To address the effects of artificial intelligence-enabled systems,
including artificial intelligence chatbots, on older adults, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 24, 2026
Mr. Kelly (for himself, Mr. Scott of Florida, and Mr. Marshall)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To address the effects of artificial intelligence-enabled systems,
including artificial intelligence chatbots, on older adults, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Aging with Artificial Intelligence
Act of 2026''.
SEC. 2. STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE-ENABLED SYSTEMS
ON OLDER ADULTS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through
the Director of the National Institute on Aging, shall seek to enter
into a contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering,
and Medicine to conduct a consensus study on the effects of artificial
intelligence-enabled systems on older adults, including artificial
intelligence chatbots.
(b) Inclusions.--The study under subsection (a) shall analyze--
(1) patterns and contexts of use of artificial
intelligence-enabled systems among older adults, including use
for communication, caregiving, companionship to reduce social
isolation, health-related information, cognitive engagement,
and activities of daily living, and associated benefits and
functional outcomes, including cognitive, behavioral, and
social outcomes, improved access to information and services,
support for caregivers, assistance with everyday functioning,
and aging in place, taking into account differences such as
cognitive impairment, disability, digital literacy, social
isolation, and other factors affecting use and outcomes;
(2) the potential risks and adverse outcomes associated
with the use of artificial intelligence-enabled systems by
older adults, including scams, fraud, financial exploitation,
misleading or inaccurate health-related information,
overreliance on such systems, reinforcement of harmful or
distorted beliefs or behaviors, including delusions, paranoia,
or engagement in self-harm, crisis situations, and prolonged or
excessive use;
(3) the safety, accessibility, privacy practices, and
fraud-prevention safeguards associated with artificial
intelligence-enabled systems used by older adults, including
safeguards relating to crisis response, informed consent and
data-use practices, accessibility for older adults with
disabilities, and the role of human oversight in shaping
reliance on such systems;
(4) the effects of artificial intelligence-enabled systems
on family members, caregivers, clinician interactions, and
caregiving-related decision-making, including the degree to
which such systems supplement or substitute for human
interaction or support; and
(5) research gaps, best practices, areas for future study,
and opportunities for coordination relating to the use of
artificial intelligence-enabled systems by older adults,
including considerations relevant to Federal research and
aging-related programs.
(c) Consultation.--In conducting the study under subsection (a),
the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine shall
consult with the National Institute on Aging, the National Institute on
Mental Health, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the
Federal Trade Commission, licensed medical professionals (including
physicians, geriatricians, and psychologists), researchers with
expertise in aging and technology, fraud and scam prevention experts,
disability and accessibility experts, caregivers, health care
organizations, and representatives from industry.
(d) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Special Committee on Aging of
the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives a report that describes the results of the study under
subsection (a), including findings and recommendations regarding the
use of artificial intelligence-enabled systems by older adults and
associated outcomes.
(e) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Artificial intelligence chatbot.--The term ``artificial
intelligence chatbot''--
(A) means any interactive computer service or
software application that--
(i) produces new expressive content or
responses not fully predetermined by the
developer or operator of the service or
application; and
(ii) accepts open-ended natural-language or
multimodal user input and produces adaptive or
context-responsive output; and
(B) does not include an interactive computer
service or software application--
(i) the responses of which are limited to
contextualized replies; and
(ii) that is unable to respond on a range
of topics outside of a narrow purpose.
(2) Artificial intelligence-enabled system.--The term
``artificial intelligence-enabled system'' means any system
that uses artificial intelligence, machine learning, or
automated decisionmaking to perform tasks, provide
recommendations, or interact with users, including--
(A) artificial intelligence chatbots;
(B) voice-activated assistants;
(C) automated health monitoring systems;
(D) robotic assistive devices; and
(E) generative or large language model-based tools,
including decision support tools, used in health care,
financial services, caregiving, or daily-living
activities.
(3) Older adult.--The term ``older adult'' means an
individual age 65 or older.
(f) Funding.--Out of amounts otherwise appropriated to the
Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary shall use to
carry out this section not more than $2,000,000 for the period of
fiscal years 2027 and 2028.
SEC. 3. AGING RESEARCH TO IMPROVE CARE AND HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR OLDER
ADULTS.
Subpart 5 of part C of title IV of the Public Health Service Act
(42 U.S.C. 285e et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 445J. AGING RESEARCH TO IMPROVE CARE AND HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR
OLDER ADULTS.
``(a) In General.--The Director of the Institute shall facilitate
multidisciplinary research, stakeholder coordination, and dissemination
of best practices relating to the use of artificial intelligence-
enabled systems by older adults.
``(b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this section, the Director shall submit to Congress a report that
describes activities carried out under this section, including emerging
research findings and areas for future study relating to artificial
intelligence-enabled systems and older adults.
``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Artificial intelligence-enabled system.--The term
`artificial intelligence-enabled system' means any system that
uses artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automated
decisionmaking to perform tasks, provide recommendations, or
interact with users, including--
``(A) artificial intelligence chatbots;
``(B) voice-activated assistants;
``(C) automated health monitoring systems;
``(D) robotic assistive devices; and
``(E) generative or large language model-based
tools, including decision support tools, used in health
care, financial services, caregiving, or daily-living
activities.
``(2) Older adult.--The term `older adult' means an
individual age 65 or older.''.
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