Oklahoma's journey into the AI legislative arena has taken a definitive step forward as two bills aimed at establishing boundaries for artificial intelligence use have cleared the House Government Modernization and Technology Committee. Rep. Cody Maynard, R-Durant, who helms the committee, penned the pieces of legislation – House Bill 3545 and House Bill 3546 – that set the stage for state agency protocol regarding AI, according to the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
HB 3545 proposes standards for AI employment in government operations, particularly where high-risk decisions are concerned. Maynard insisted on the necessity of human involvement as a check on the AI's decision-making power, a move underscoring the importance of maintaining a human element in governance. In addition, there's a demand for transparency around AI utilization including a mandate for annual reports, "so that everyone knows what AI is being used for in the state," Maynard said in a statement obtained by the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
The second bill, HB 3546, takes a firm stand on the legal status of AI systems: They are not to be recognized as persons under Oklahoma law. This implies that AI systems, along with other inanimate objects, would be denied the ability to hold legal rights. "This ensures that rights remain with people and prevents artificial intelligence from being used to claim legal standing or avoid accountability under our laws," Maynard emphasized in the Oklahoma House of Representatives pressrelease. The legislation intends to maintain the separation between man and machine, entrusting rights solely to flesh-and-blood beings.
In a nod to the Declaration of Independence, Maynard remarked, "Machines are created by man, and they must never be elevated to the status of the people they were designed to serve." Both bills have been met with resounding support in committee and are now on their way to the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development Oversight for further consideration, as noted by the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
Addressing concerns around the vulnerability of minors to sophisticated AI, Maynard has also introduced House Bill 3544. This bill, which has yet to clear the Civil Judiciary Committee, aims to shield young Oklahomans from AI that mimics human interaction. Specifically, it would ban the use of social AI companions and lifelike AI chatbots for those under 18, with strict exceptions for therapeutic tools supervised by professionals. Maynard cited "growing national concern," pointing to lawsuits that allege some AI-companion platforms can cultivate emotional dependency in minors, and in grave cases, even promote self-harm.
