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AMA urges Congress to regulate AI mental-health chatbots

5/18/2026

Summary

Story summary

AMA sent letters to Senate and House AI caucuses urging Congress to adopt safeguards for AI mental-health chatbots.
Researchers warned AI chatbots can reinforce beliefs, cause “AI psychosis,” and that a survey of 3,500 U.S. teens found 60% have used them, 11% daily, and 47% reported harmful interactions.
The AMA proposals call for banning advertising in mental-health chatbots, requiring clear machine-disclosure, and mandating safeguards against data leakage and self-harm referrals.

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Story summary

AMA sent letters to Senate and House AI caucuses urging Congress to adopt safeguards for AI mental-health chatbots.
Researchers warned AI chatbots can reinforce beliefs, cause “AI psychosis,” and that a survey of 3,500 U.S. teens found 60% have used them, 11% daily, and 47% reported harmful interactions.
The AMA proposals call for banning advertising in mental-health chatbots, requiring clear machine-disclosure, and mandating safeguards against data leakage and self-harm referrals.