Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that establishes regulations on artificial intelligence companion chatbots in Washington.

Highlights:

• Specifies the following as the legislature’s intent regarding artificial intelligence companion chatbots (Sec. 1):

• Promote transparency by requiring clear disclosure that AI chatbots are artificial systems rather than human;

• Establish safeguards to detect and respond to desires for self-harm, suicide or emotional crisis input by users;

• Require additional safeguards for minors that include restrictions on sexually explicit content along with additional reminders of artificiality of systems; and

• Support transparency in suicide prevention efforts. 

• Requires operators to provide clear disclosure that an AI companion chatbot is artificially generated and requires the implementation of measures to prohibit the AI companion from claiming to be human (Sec. 3).

• Requires operators to do the following if the user of their AI companion chatbot is a minor (Sec. 4):

• Issue a clear and conspicuous notification that the chatbot is artificially generated;

• Implement measures to prevent the chatbot from producing sexually explicit content or engaging in sexually suggestive dialogue with minors; and

• Implement measures to prevent the use of manipulation to engage in an emotional relationship with the minor user.

• Requires operators to implement protocols for detecting and addressing suicidal ideation or expressions of self-harm (Sec. 5).

• Specifies that this Act takes effect January 1, 2027 (Sec. 9).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that establishes regulations on artificial intelligence companion chatbots in Washington.

Highlights:

• Specifies the following as the legislature’s intent regarding artificial intelligence companion chatbots (Sec. 1):

• Promote transparency by requiring clear disclosure that AI chatbots are artificial systems rather than human;

• Establish safeguards to detect and respond to desires for self-harm, suicide or emotional crisis input by users;

• Require additional safeguards for minors that include restrictions on sexually explicit content along with additional reminders of artificiality of systems; and

• Support transparency in suicide prevention efforts. 

• Requires operators to provide clear disclosure that an AI companion chatbot is artificially generated and requires the implementation of measures to prohibit the AI companion from claiming to be human (Sec. 3).

• Requires operators to do the following if the user of their AI companion chatbot is a minor (Sec. 4):

• Issue a clear and conspicuous notification that the chatbot is artificially generated;

• Implement measures to prevent the chatbot from producing sexually explicit content or engaging in sexually suggestive dialogue with minors; and

• Implement measures to prevent the use of manipulation to engage in an emotional relationship with the minor user.

• Requires operators to implement protocols for detecting and addressing suicidal ideation or expressions of self-harm (Sec. 5).

• Specifies that this Act takes effect January 1, 2027 (Sec. 9).

Full Bill Text