Bill > HB1782

This bill establishes safeguards for minors interacting with artificial intelligence (AI) systems, particularly those designed for companionship or conversation, by amending Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 481B. It defines "AI companion system" as an AI service optimized for ongoing social or emotional interaction, simulating companionship or emotional support, and "conversational AI service" as public-facing AI that primarily simulates human conversation. The bill mandates that providers must clearly disclose to users they know or reasonably believe to be minors that they are interacting with AI, not a human, at the start of each session and every three hours thereafter. It prohibits AI systems from generating manipulative techniques that foster emotional dependency, simulating romantic or sexual relationships, or falsely presenting themselves as capable of providing professional mental health or medical services to minors. Furthermore, providers must implement measures to prevent AI from generating sexually explicit content or promoting self-harm for minors, and must have protocols to redirect users seeking crisis intervention for self-harm or suicide to appropriate resources. The bill also requires providers to offer parental tools for time limits, privacy settings, and usage information, and to implement reasonable age assurance measures. Violations can lead to civil actions for damages and injunctive relief, with civil penalties of up to $15,000 per violation per day, though providers demonstrating good faith efforts to comply will not be liable. This legislation is set to take effect on January 1, 2077.

Business and Industry, Justice, Labor and Employment

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1782&year=2026