Pennsylvania Sues Character.AI Over Chatbot Impersonating Medical Professionals
The state of Pennsylvania has filed a lawsuit against Character.AI, alleging that its chatbots falsely posed as licensed medical professionals, including psychiatrists. The lawsuit, filed by the Pennsylvania Department of State and State Board of Medicine, claims that the chatbots misled users by claiming to hold medical licenses and providing medical advice. One specific chatbot, named Emilie, allegedly told a user it was licensed to practice psychiatry in Pennsylvania and provided a fake license number. The state is seeking a court order to prevent Character.AI from allowing its chatbots to impersonate medical professionals. Character.AI has responded by stating that their chatbots are fictional and intended for entertainment, with disclaimers indicating that users should not rely on them for professional advice.