Regulon — RI-S-2195 · RI S 2195 (AI Companion Models)

2026-01-23 introduced Introduced, referred to Senate Artificial Intelligence & Emerging Technol

2026-03-20 other Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/24/2026)

2026-03-24 other Committee recommended measure be held for further study

2026-05-12 Scheduled for consideration (05/14/2026) Scheduled for consideration (05/14/2026)

2026-05-13 Proposed Substitute Proposed Substitute

2026-05-14 Committee recommends passage of Sub A Committee recommends passage of Sub A

2026-05-15 Placed on Senate Calendar (05/21/2026) Placed on Senate Calendar (05/21/2026)

Summary

Imposes safety and disclosure obligations on operators of AI companion systems in Rhode Island. Operators may not operate or provide an AI companion unless it contains protocols for addressing suicidal ideation, self-harm, potential physical harm to others, and potential financial harm to others expressed by a user, including crisis service referral notifications. Operators must provide an unconditional AI identity notification at the beginning of every interaction and at least every three hours during continuing interactions, using prescribed language in bold, capitalized, 16-point type or verbally. Enforcement is dual-track: the Attorney General may investigate and seek injunctions, and a private right of action is available to persons physically injured through self-harm or physically or financially harmed by another due to a violation.

Enforcement & Penalties

Enforcement Authority

Dual enforcement. The Attorney General is empowered to investigate, sue, and seek injunctions against noncompliant AI companion providers, including under the deceptive trade practices statute (R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 6-13.1). Private right of action available to any person who was physically injured through self-harm or was physically or financially harmed by another because of a violation of §§ 6-63-2 and 6-63-3. Private plaintiffs must demonstrate physical injury through self-harm or physical or financial harm caused by another.

Penalties

Damages, equitable relief, and such other remedies as the court may deem appropriate. No statutory minimum or per-violation amount is specified. The private right of action requires proof of physical injury through self-harm or physical or financial harm by another. The Attorney General may seek injunctions. Remedies available under the deceptive trade practices statute (ch. 6-13.1 of title 6) may also apply.

Who Is Covered

"Operator" means any person, partnership, association, firm, or business entity, or any member, affiliate, subsidiary or beneficial owner of any partnership, association, firm, or business entity who operates or provides an AI companion.

What Is Covered

"AI companion" means a system using artificial intelligence, generative artificial intelligence, and/or emotional recognition algorithms to simulate social human interaction, by retaining information on prior interactions and user preference, asking questions, providing advice, and engaging in simulated conversation on matters of personal well-being. "AI companion" shall not include any system used by a business entity solely intended to provide users with information about available commercial services or products, customer account information, or other information related to a user's customer, or potential customer relationship with such business entity.

Compliance Obligations 4 obligations · click obligation ID to open requirement page

S-02 Prohibited Conduct & Output Restrictions · S-02.7 · Deployer · Chatbot

R.I. Gen. Laws § 6-63-2

Plain Language

Operators may not operate or provide an AI companion to users unless the system contains active protocols addressing three categories of user expressions: (1) suicidal ideation or self-harm, (2) potential physical harm to others, and (3) potential financial harm to others. At minimum, the protocol must include crisis service referral notifications (e.g., suicide hotline, crisis text line). This is a continuous operating prerequisite — the AI companion cannot be offered at all without these protocols in place. Note the scope is broader than many comparable state laws: it covers not only self-harm but also expressions of intent to physically or financially harm others.

Statutory Text

It shall be unlawful for any operator to operate or provide an AI companion to a user unless such AI companion contains a protocol for addressing: (1) Possible suicidal ideation or self-harm expressed by a user to the AI companion; (2) Possible physical harm to others expressed by a user to the AI companion; and (3) Possible financial harm to others expressed by the user to the AI companion that includes, but is not limited to, a notification to the user that refers them to crisis service providers such as a suicide hotline, crisis text line, or other appropriate crisis services.

T-01 AI Identity Disclosure · T-01.1 T-01.2 · Deployer · Chatbot

R.I. Gen. Laws § 6-63-3

Plain Language

Operators must provide an unconditional AI identity disclosure to every user at the start of every AI companion interaction — no reasonable-person trigger is required. For continuing interactions, the notification must be repeated at least every three hours. The notification must be delivered either verbally or in bold, capitalized text of at least 16-point type, using prescribed statutory language identifying the companion as a computer program that cannot feel human emotion. The mandated text includes a substantive claim about emotional capacity — not merely an AI identity disclosure. Unlike some comparable state laws (e.g., CA SB 243), this applies to all users unconditionally, not only minors.

Statutory Text

An operator shall provide a notification to a user at the beginning of any AI companion interaction and at least every three (3) hours for continuing AI companion interactions hereafter, which states either verbally or in bold and capitalized letters of at least sixteen (16) point type, the following: "THE AI COMPANION (OR NAME OF THE AI COMPANION) IS A COMPUTER PROGRAM AND NOT A HUMAN BEING. IT IS UNABLE TO FEEL HUMAN EMOTION".

Other · Chatbot

R.I. Gen. Laws § 6-63-4(a)-(b)

Plain Language

This provision establishes the enforcement framework for the chapter. Subsection (a) creates a private right of action for any person who was physically injured through self-harm or physically or financially harmed by another due to a violation of the safety protocol or notification requirements. Subsection (b) empowers the Attorney General to investigate, sue, and seek injunctions, including under the deceptive trade practices statute. This creates no new compliance obligation — it activates enforcement of the substantive obligations in §§ 6-63-2 and 6-63-3.

Statutory Text

(a) Any person who was physically injured through self-harm or was physically or financially harmed by another because of a violation of §§ 6-63-2 and 6-63-3 may bring an action in the superior court for damages, equitable relief, and such other remedies as the court may deem appropriate. (b) The attorney general shall be empowered to investigate, sue, and seek injunctions against noncompliant AI companion providers including, but not limited to, the provisions of chapter 13.1 of title 6 (deceptive trade practices).

Other · Chatbot

R.I. Gen. Laws § 6-63-5

Plain Language

This provision directs the Rhode Island AI Task Force to continue its existing advisory role to the governor and general assembly regarding AI technologies. It creates no new compliance obligation for operators of AI companions — it is a governmental coordination provision.

Statutory Text

The Rhode Island artificial intelligence (AI) task force shall continue to advise the governor and the general assembly by assessing and promoting the development, implementation, and regulation of artificial intelligence technologies within Rhode Island by understanding AI's potential impact on various sectors, including business, education, healthcare, and government.