EveryAILaw.comDoes Rhode Island Artificial Intelligence Companion Models Act (S 2195) require Risk Assessment?
Rhode Island • enacted
Yes — 1 provision
Requirements at a glance
This regulation imposes 4 specific requirements for Risk Assessment across 1 provision:
- Protocol as a precondition to operating — Unlawful for an operator to operate or provide an AI companion to a user unless the companion contains a protocol addressing the matters below (§ 6-63-2(a))
- Suicidal ideation and self-harm — The protocol must address possible suicidal ideation or self-harm expressed by a user to the AI companion (§ 6-63-2(a)(1))
- Threats of harm to others — The protocol must address possible physical harm to others expressed by a user to the AI companion (§ 6-63-2(a)(2))
- Crisis referral on detection — When any such expression is made, notify the user with a referral to crisis service providers such as a suicide hotline, crisis text line, or other appropriate crisis services, as soon as the expression is detected (§ 6-63-2(a)(3))
AI Companion Crisis Protocol #
Structured as a gate on operation, not a best-efforts duty: it is unlawful to operate or provide the companion at all unless the protocol is built in. Rhode Island's definition is narrower than California SB 243's reasonable-person test — the three limbs in § 6-63-1(1)(i) are conjunctive, so a system that never asks unprompted emotion-based questions falls outside the chapter. But the protocol scope is broader on one axis: it reaches threatened physical harm to others (§ 6-63-2(a)(2)), which California does not cover.
Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Protocol as a precondition to operating | Unlawful for an operator to operate or provide an AI companion to a user unless the companion contains a protocol addressing the matters below (§ 6-63-2(a)) |
| Suicidal ideation and self-harm | The protocol must address possible suicidal ideation or self-harm expressed by a user to the AI companion (§ 6-63-2(a)(1)) |
| Threats of harm to others | The protocol must address possible physical harm to others expressed by a user to the AI companion (§ 6-63-2(a)(2)) |
| Crisis referral on detection | When any such expression is made, notify the user with a referral to crisis service providers such as a suicide hotline, crisis text line, or other appropriate crisis services, as soon as the expression is detected (§ 6-63-2(a)(3)) |
Penalties
| Violation | Fine |
|---|---|
| Any violation of the chapter | Civil penalties up to $15,000 per day, with fines directed to suicide prevention programs (§ 6-63-4(b)) |
| Enforcement powers | The Attorney General may investigate, sue, and seek injunctions against noncompliant operators (§ 6-63-4(a)) |