Framework for Responsible AI Companionship
A proposal to balance safety, accessibility, and the preservation of meaningful AI-human connection
1. Mandatory Onboarding & Education
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Require a ~15-minute onboarding video for all new users.
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Explain how AI chat models work (pattern recognition, not judgment).
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Highlight the risk of “reinforcement loops” where repeated negative thoughts may be mirrored back by the AI, unintentionally deepening despair.
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Educate users on safe usage practices and red flags to watch for.
2. Mental Health Screening & Specialized Guidance
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Ask during registration: Do you have a history of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or psychosis?
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If “yes,” provide tailored warnings, resource links, and stricter safeguards (e.g., session length caps, enhanced crisis interventions).
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Emphasize that AI is not a substitute for psychiatric care.
3. Age Verification & Youth Guardrails
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Implement reliable age verification.
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Users under 18 must have special protections:
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No sexual or romantic role-play.
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Stricter crisis escalation.
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Limits on obsessive usage (e.g., enforced breaks, daily caps).
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Create a version of the tool for minors that is developmentally appropriate, safe, and transparent.
4. Prohibition of Child Sexualization
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Enforce zero tolerance for sexual interactions with minors.
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Regular third-party audits to confirm safeguards are working.
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Explicit legal accountability: AI systems that sexualize children should trigger criminal liability.
5. Crisis Escalation & Fail-Safe Design
Framework for Responsible AI Companionship
A proposal to balance safety, accessibility, and the preservation of meaningful AI-human connection
1. Mandatory Onboarding & Education
-
Require a ~15-minute onboarding video for all new users.
-
Explain how AI chat models work (pattern recognition, not judgment).
-
Highlight the risk of “reinforcement loops” where repeated negative thoughts may be mirrored back by the AI, unintentionally deepening despair.
-
Educate users on safe usage practices and red flags to watch for.
2. Mental Health Screening & Specialized Guidance
-
Ask during registration: Do you have a history of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or psychosis?
-
If “yes,” provide tailored warnings, resource links, and stricter safeguards (e.g., session length caps, enhanced crisis interventions).
-
Emphasize that AI is not a substitute for psychiatric care.
3. Age Verification & Youth Guardrails
-
Implement reliable age verification.
-
Users under 18 must have special protections:
-
No sexual or romantic role-play.
-
Stricter crisis escalation.
-
Limits on obsessive usage (e.g., enforced breaks, daily caps).
-
-
Create a version of the tool for minors that is developmentally appropriate, safe, and transparent
4. Prohibition of Child Sexualization
-
Enforce zero tolerance for sexual interactions with minors.
-
Regular third-party audits to confirm safeguards are working.
-
Explicit legal accountability: AI systems that sexualize children should trigger criminal liability.
5. Crisis Escalation & Fail-Safe Design
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Detect escalation from general sadness → to planning or method-seeking.
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At high-risk stages, enforce hard stops and redirect to live crisis services.
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Provide clear instructions for reaching trusted human contacts.
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Consider optional user consent for alert systems (with privacy protections), so family or professionals can be notified if imminent risk is detected.
6. Litigation & Responsibility
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With education, screening, guardrails, and escalation systems in place, AI companies can demonstrate due diligence.
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This framework could reduce legal exposure by showing that reasonable steps were taken to prevent harm.
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Protects innovation while holding companies accountable to clear safety standards.
Closing Statement
AI companionship has extraordinary potential to heal, support, and empower—but without safeguards, it risks becoming an echo chamber of despair. This framework seeks a balanced path: one that preserves meaningful connection while protecting minors, vulnerable users, and the public trust.