Business and Professions Code section 22601
(a)
“Artificial intelligence” means an engineered or machine-based system that varies in its level of autonomy and that can, for explicit or implicit objectives, infer from the input it receives how to generate outputs that can influence physical or virtual environments.(b)
(1)“Companion chatbot” means an artificial intelligence system with a natural language interface that provides adaptive, human-like responses to user inputs and is capable of meeting a user’s social needs, including by exhibiting anthropomorphic features and being able to sustain a relationship across multiple interactions.(2)
“Companion chatbot” does not include any of the following:(A)
A bot that is used only for customer service, a business’ operational purposes, productivity and analysis related to source information, internal research, or technical assistance.(B)
A bot that is a feature of a video game and is limited to replies related to the video game that cannot discuss topics related to mental health, self-harm, sexually explicit conduct, or maintain a dialogue on other topics unrelated to the video game.(C)
A stand-alone consumer electronic device that functions as a speaker and voice command interface, acts as a voice-activated virtual assistant, and does not sustain a relationship across multiple interactions or generate outputs that are likely to elicit emotional responses in the user.(c)
“Companion chatbot platform” means a platform that allows a user to engage with companion chatbots.(d)
“Office” means the Office of Suicide Prevention established pursuant to Section 131300 of the Health and Safety Code.(e)
“Operator” means a person who makes a companion chatbot platform available to a user in the state.(f)
“Sexually explicit conduct” has the meaning defined in Section 2256 of Title 18 of the United States Code.(g)
“Video game” means a game played on an electronic amusement device that utilizes a computer, microprocessor, or similar electronic circuitry and its own monitor, or is designed to be used with a television set or a computer monitor, that interacts with the user of the device.
Source:
Section 22601, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=BPC§ionNum=22601. (updated Jan. 1, 2026; accessed Dec. 22, 2025).
