Bill > HB3544

This bill establishes regulations for "social AI companions," which are artificial intelligence systems designed to simulate companionship or emotional attachment, to protect minors in Oklahoma. The law defines "artificial intelligence" as a system that can learn from input to generate outputs influencing environments, and a "social AI companion" as one whose core function is to simulate sustained interpersonal, emotional, or romantic interaction, explicitly excluding systems for customer service, general virtual assistants, search engines, or those not primarily marketed for companionship. A "deployer" is defined as anyone operating or making these companions available, but excludes entities like app stores or internet providers that merely host or transmit them. The bill mandates that deployers must not knowingly make social AI companions available to minors (under 18) and must take reasonable steps to prevent such access, while clarifying that adult access remains lawful. Furthermore, deployers must implement protocols for social AI companions to respond to users expressing suicidal thoughts or self-harm by directing them to crisis services. Violations of these provisions can result in civil penalties of up to $2,500 per violation, or $7,500 for intentional violations, with the Attorney General empowered to enforce the act and create necessary rules. The bill also states that the Legislature finds that AI companions pose risks to minors due to their developmental vulnerability and that the state has an interest in protecting children's well-being. This act will take effect on November 1, 2026.