Relating to chatbots, including deployer requirements and interactions with minors

This bill relates to chatbots. The bill defines “artificial intelligence” as a machine-based system that, for any explicit or implicit objective, infers from the input the system receives to generate output that can influence physical or virtual environments. The bill defines “chatbot” as an artificial intelligence that interacts with users by simulating human conversation. The bill defines “deployer” as a person that owns an artificial intelligence available for public use. The bill also defines “minor”, “output”, and “reasonable age verification”. The bill requires a deployer of a chatbot to implement and maintain protocols meant to detect, respond to, report, and mitigate harm the chatbot may cause a user in a manner that prioritizes the safety and well-being of users over the deployer’s interests, and limit the collection and storage of user information collected by the chatbot to what is necessary to fulfill the deployer’s purpose for making the chatbot publicly available. _____ The bill requires a deployer to implement reasonable age verification measures to ensure that a minor cannot use or purchase a chatbot the deployer makes publicly available. However, the bill permits a deployer to make a chatbot available for a minor’s mental health support, counseling, or therapy if the chatbot meets certain requirements as detailed in the bill. The bill allows the attorney general to bring an action on behalf of the state to enforce the bill’s provisions and seek an injunction for violations of the bill. A court may issue a civil penalty of not more than $2,500 for each violation of the bill, or $7,500 if a person violates an injunction issued under the bill. Penalties awarded to the state under the bill shall be deposited into the general fund of the state. The bill allows a parent, guardian, or custodian of a minor who uses a chatbot that does not comply with the bill to bring an action to recover a civil penalty of not less than $100 but not more than $750 or actual damages, whichever is greater.