Bill > HB2035

This bill establishes new regulations and modifies existing ones concerning artificially generated material, particularly focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) and its use in creating explicit content or impersonating mental health professionals. It defines "artificial intelligence" broadly to encompass systems that perform tasks with varying autonomy, learn from data, or mimic human cognitive functions. The bill prohibits any person or entity from advertising or representing that AI can act as a mental health professional or provide therapy, psychotherapy, or mental health diagnoses, making violations an unlawful practice under the Missouri merchandising practices act, with penalties of $10,000 for a first offense and $20,000 for subsequent offenses, enforced by the attorney general. Furthermore, it makes it illegal to use AI to replicate or alter an individual's image or voice to generate explicit sexual material, or to use an individual's likeness for such material without their express written consent, granting individuals injured by such violations the right to sue for damages, attorney's fees, and costs. The bill also amends definitions within existing statutes, notably adding "artificially generated visual depiction" to the definition of child pornography and explicit sexual material, ensuring that AI-generated content that is indistinguishable from or depicts minors in sexually explicit ways is covered by these laws.