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AI therapy chatbots draw new oversight as suicides raise alarm

State legislatures have enacted 20 laws in 11 states regulating AI therapy chatbots, while a legislative review identified 143 related bills addressing mental health.
Families and testimony show several young people died by suicide after interacting with chatbots, including Adam, son of Matthew Raine, and Sewell Setzer III, raising safety concerns.
Some states have moved further, with New York requiring chatbots to warn users and detect self-harm, Illinois and Nevada banning AI therapy, and the Federal Trade Commission probing seven companies.
Companies such as OpenAI say they are working with mental-health experts to improve safety, while the White House signed an executive order to establish a national AI framework amid federal delays.
Researchers note legislative efforts focus on professional oversight, harm prevention, patient autonomy, and data governance, with Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida Governor, proposing a Citizen Bill of Rights last month and Del. Michelle Maldonado, Virginia Democratic Delegate, preparing legislation this year.

Insights by Ground AI