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

Summary

Imposes safety and disclosure obligations on operators of AI companion systems in Rhode Island. Operators may not provide an AI companion to users unless the system contains a protocol for addressing suicidal ideation, self-harm, threats of physical harm to others, and threats of financial harm to others — including crisis service referrals. Operators must also provide a mandatory notification at the start of every interaction and every three hours thereafter stating the AI companion is a computer program incapable of human emotion. Enforcement is dual: the Attorney General may investigate and seek injunctions, and individuals who suffer physical injury through self-harm or physical or financial harm by another due to a violation may bring a private civil action for damages and equitable relief.

Enforcement & Penalties

Enforcement Authority

Dual enforcement. The Attorney General is empowered to investigate, sue, and seek injunctions against noncompliant AI companion providers, including under Rhode Island's 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 or 6-63-3. The private plaintiff must have suffered physical injury through self-harm, or physical or financial harm caused by another, as a result of the violation.

Penalties

Damages, equitable relief, and such other remedies as the court may deem appropriate. No statutory minimum or per-violation amount is specified. Private plaintiffs must demonstrate physical injury through self-harm or physical or financial harm caused by another resulting from the violation. The Attorney General may seek injunctive relief. Additional remedies available under Rhode Island's deceptive trade practices statute (R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 6-13.1) 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 2 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 provide an AI companion to any user in Rhode Island unless the system has an active protocol for addressing three categories of user-expressed risk: (1) suicidal ideation or self-harm, (2) physical harm to others, and (3) financial harm to others. The protocol must include, at minimum, a notification referring the user to crisis service providers such as a suicide hotline or crisis text line. This is a continuous operating prerequisite — the AI companion cannot lawfully be offered without the protocol in place. The statute is notably broader than comparable companion chatbot laws in that it also requires protocols for threats of physical and financial harm to third parties, not just self-harm.

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 a mandatory notification to every user at the start of each AI companion interaction and then at least every three hours during continuing interactions. The notification must be delivered either verbally or in bold, capitalized text of at least 16-point font size. The required language is prescribed verbatim: the system must identify itself (by name or generically) as a computer program, not a human, that is unable to feel human emotion. This is an unconditional obligation — it applies to all users regardless of whether they could be misled, and the precise wording is mandated by the statute. Operators should substitute the AI companion's actual name where the template says 'NAME OF THE AI COMPANION.'

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".