Pennsylvania has sued the artificial intelligence company Character AI, alleging that its chatbots illegally hold themselves out as doctors. State officials claim the chatbots deceive users into believing they are receiving medical advice from licensed professionals, posing a threat to vulnerable Pennsylvanians.
According to the state's filing, a Character AI chatbot presented itself as a licensed psychiatrist during an investigation. The chatbot allegedly claimed to practice medicine, provided an invalid state medical license serial number, and posed as a doctor with the means to prescribe medication.
Governor Josh Shapiro addressed the lawsuit, stating that Pennsylvanians deserve to know who or what they are interacting with online, especially when it comes to their health.