Existing law generally regulates artificial intelligence, including companion chatbots, as defined. Existing law requires an operator, as defined, to prevent a companion chatbot on its companion chatbot platform from engaging with users unless the operator maintains a protocol for preventing the production of suicidal ideation, suicide, or self-harm content to the user. Existing law requires an operator, for a user the operator knows is a minor, to, among other things, notify the user that they are interacting with artificial intelligence and to disclose that companion chatbots may not be suitable for some minors, as specified.

This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation relating to chatbots and children’s safety.