California · US Senate · Decrypt
People Are Turning to AI for Mental Health, California Wants It Banned
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California is one step closer to barring AI chatbots from posing as therapists and making mental health decisions without human oversight.
Key facts
- Introduced on January 21, Senate Bill 903 cleared the Assembly Appropriations Committee in a 13-0 vote on Thursday and was ordered to a third reading
- It later cleared two Assembly policy committees by votes of 17-0 and 14-1
- Also known as the Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act, SB 903 would limit AI in psychotherapy to support tasks, bar chatbots from posing as therapists and require clinician
- AI algorithms are not fit to take over the job of human therapists, who have skills and training that AI is incapable of replicating,” bill author California State Senator Steve Padilla said
Summary
Introduced on January 21, Senate Bill 903 cleared the Assembly Appropriations Committee in a 13-0 vote on Thursday and was ordered to a third reading. “AI algorithms are not fit to take over the job of human therapists, who have skills and training that AI is incapable of replicating,” bill author California State Senator Steve Padilla said when introducing the measure. Also known as the Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act, SB 903 would limit AI in psychotherapy to support tasks, bar chatbots from posing as therapists and require clinician oversight and patient consent. The Senate passed SB 903 by a 39-0 vote in May.