Balancing AI’s Personal Intrusions

AI is starting to show up in places we once assumed were purely human, especially in our most personal conversations. When a chatbot drafts a message to a partner or a tool clones someone’s voice, something feels off. That reaction is not irrational. Trust and authenticity are the backbone of our relationships, and AI can quietly disrupt both if we are not paying attention.

The problem is not AI itself. It is the lack of transparency. Research already shows that people feel misled and less trusting when they find out a message they thought was human was actually AI generated. Instead of banning these tools, we need clear disclosure standards so people know when AI is involved and can decide how they want to respond.

Right now, Congress has not created meaningful guardrails around AI in personal communication. Tech companies are racing ahead, but the rules have not caught up. If we want AI to strengthen society instead of eroding trust, lawmakers need to move quickly to require transparency and build systems that protect human connection.