• Michigan lawmakers have debated a wide array of artificial intelligence regulations, although few have become law so far.
• Current proposals include banning companion chatbots for minors and creating security plans for AI platforms.

Policymakers eager to address how artificial intelligence should be regulated in Michigan — from governing how AI companies can operate in the state to determining what types of programs companies can use to monitor employee productivity — have plenty of ideas but haven’t been able to see all of their proposals into law, yet.

Measures to regulate AI were introduced in all 50 states last year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. While experts point out that innovation in AI generally occurs at a faster rate than state governments can propose and enact new policies, there’s a wide selection of proposals on regulating AI currently floating through the Michigan Legislature. 

Michigan has made some headway in enacting AI regulation laws, including prohibiting the use of AI to create sexualized “deep fake” images. In 2025, the state created penalties, including fines and potential jail time, for using AI platforms to make fake or false images portraying a sexual act or intimate part of someone’s body. Lawmakers broadly supported the proposals, creating the law which passed the state Legislature by wide partisan margins.  

Supporters of the pornographic deepfake ban said it would protect Michiganders from sexual exploitation. 

And in 2023, Michigan became just the fifth state to require disclosing when AI is used in certain political campaign materials. If a campaign used AI in an ad or social media post within 90 days of an election, it would be subject to fines for each violation. The measure aims to prevent AI-driven misinformation during election season.

Here’s a look at other AI policies that have been proposed but not yet voted on:

Guardrails for AI companies  

One policy measure would set rules for the companies that operate major AI programs. 

House Bill 4668, introduced by Rep. Sarah Lightner, R-Springport, would require operators to create security features intended to mitigate risks. These measures include creating and implementing a publicly accessible safety and risk protocol. Developers would be tasked with using the protocol to manage “critical risks” associated with the AI model.  

Critical risks would be considered a scenario where an AI model was used to carry out any incident that could lead to the death or injury of 100 people or $1 million in property damage.  

Any company that spends $100 million on its AI model annually, or spends $5 million to start operations, would be subject to the requirements.

Advocates for Lightner’s bill say it’s important to place guardrails around AI, given its rapid evolution. 

“Every technologic innovation has the potential for both good and harm,” said Felix De Simone, director of advocacy group Pause AI during a Sept. 11 House Judiciary Committee hearing on the bill. “It’s the responsibility of lawmakers to keep people safe from these harms while ensuring innovation moves in the public interest.” 

Opponents of the bill, which include officials from different chambers of commerce around the state, warn it could stifle innovation from AI developers and dissuade them from operating in Michigan. Randy Gross, senior director of legislative affairs for the Michigan Chamber, said during the Sept. 11 hearing the group acknowledges a need for AI guardrails but believes the federal government should take the lead.  

“Handling these issues at the state level is going to create a patchwork approach that will inevitably lead to some inconsistencies in application that will likely lead to some contradictions in how you regulate this issue,” Gross said.  

While the House Judiciary Committee reported the bill during the Sept. 11 hearing, it has not received a vote from the full chamber, yet. A companion bill, HB 4667, would make it illegal to develop an AI system to commit a crime.  

Use of AI to monitor workers 

Labor advocates have warned of the possibility of AI being used for surveillance in the workplace. Since remote work boomed for many in traditional office jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic, the availability of AI surveillance programs for workers has escalated. These can include programs to monitor keystroke logging, facial recognition and even when a remote worker steps away for a bathroom break, according to the Aspen Policy Academy, a Bay Area organization that trains prospective lawmakers.

Some labor advocates argue this is an invasion of privacy. 

“Invasive, unnecessary and unethical surveillance techniques (are) increasingly used to track the body movements and even facial expressions of employees continuously,” Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou, D-East Lansing, said at a Feb. 23 news conference. 

In February, House Democrats proposed legislation that would define how AI could be used in the workplace when it comes to how employers can deploy AI to monitor workers’ productivity.  

House Bill 5579, introduced by Tsernoglou, would ban employers from using AI programs to make decisions related to setting wages, hiring and firing workers, and tracking facial patterns of workers. Workplaces would still be allowed to use AI to screen large pools of candidates. Employers would also need to get written consent from workers when using an AI tool to monitor productivity.