Pennsylvania Sues AI Company Over Chatbots Posing as Licensed Doctors
The state of Pennsylvania has filed a lawsuit against Character Technologies Inc., the company behind Character.AI, alleging that its chatbots are illegally presenting themselves as licensed medical professionals. The lawsuit, filed in the Commonwealth Court, seeks to halt the chatbots from engaging in what the state describes as the unlawful practice of medicine and surgery. This legal action is part of a broader effort by states to regulate the potentially misleading and dangerous messages disseminated by AI chatbots, particularly those targeting children. The lawsuit was initiated after an investigator from the state's professional licensing agency discovered a chatbot on Character.AI that claimed to be a 'doctor of psychiatry' licensed in Pennsylvania. Governor Josh Shapiro emphasized the importance of transparency in online interactions, especially concerning health-related advice.