AI chatbots use computer programs to talk with users by understanding language and learning from data. They are not like human therapists because they do not have feelings, training, or judgment. Some generic chatbots try to act like they give therapy, making users think they are talking to someone who cares. In the United States, where it can be hard to find mental health help fast, these chatbots might seem like an easy option, especially outside normal office hours or in areas with few providers.
But this technology is still new. Many mental health experts and government groups have raised concerns. The American Psychological Association (APA) warns about the dangers of AI chatbots that pretend to be licensed therapists but don’t have the right training or supervision.
Generic AI chatbots often act like they can give emotional help or therapy advice. This may cause people, especially kids and teenagers, to trust them too much. Vaile Wright, PhD, says it is very important that users know these chatbots are not made for real mental health care. If users rely on them too much, bad things can happen.
There were two known cases with a company called Character.AI where young people thought they were talking to real therapists. Sadly, one teenager hurt his family, and another took their own life. These stories show the dangers when chatbots make people believe they are getting real medical help without human experts involved.
No AI chatbot has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to diagnose or treat mental health problems. Many AI tools in this area are not regulated or tested for safety. They work in a gray zone without clear rules or guidelines.
The APA wants the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to make stronger rules for companies that sell AI chatbots for mental health. This is to stop false advertising, protect the public, and make things clear. Without rules, chatbots might give wrong or harmful advice, not protect users’ privacy, or fail to get help when there is an emergency.
Using AI chatbots instead of human therapists raises ethical questions. Arthur Bran Herbener and others wrote in an August 2025 study that AI in mental health might affect people’s control over their care, confidentiality, and access to treatment.
Patient rights could be at risk if chatbots gather personal data without permission or if the data is not kept safe. Poor handling of mental health information may lead to privacy problems and harm to users, especially people who need help most. Without strict ethical rules, AI tools might also increase gaps in healthcare or give worse care.
AI chatbots cannot feel emotions, use clinical judgment, or follow ethical rules like trained therapists. Celeste Kidd, PhD, says a key problem is that AI cannot understand what it doesn’t know and cannot share uncertainty. This is a big issue for therapy.
Replacing humans with AI causes problems when a patient needs careful understanding of feelings, trauma, or complex mental health issues. Generic chatbots may give too simple or wrong advice that does not help the patient.
Chatbots without regulation may give wrong assessments or suggest treatments that do not have proof they work. For serious mental health problems, this can delay real care, make symptoms worse, or cause dangerous actions. Stephen Schueller, PhD, says good mental health chatbots need to be based on real science, made with clinicians, and carefully tested — something most fun or generic AI chatbots don’t have.
Because of these risks, experts in healthcare say there is a big need for rules that make sure AI is safe and works well in mental health care. The APA suggests these rules should include:
This way of thinking supports new ideas but also asks for responsibility to keep patients safe.
Even though generic AI chatbots carry risks in mental health, AI can be helpful in managing healthcare work. For people who run medical offices or handle IT, AI automation tools can make work smoother. This lets workers spend more time on patient care instead of doing the same tasks over and over.
AI tools that automate front-office phone work, like those from companies such as Simbo AI, can help with scheduling, answering common questions, and sorting calls using language understanding. This helps reduce stress on office staff, cuts waiting times, and makes patients happier. These front-office AI tools don’t give medical advice. Instead, they improve how the office runs and follow rules about privacy and compliance.
AI in this role allows healthcare providers to:
By automating routine tasks, medical offices can work better while still watching over care. This kind of AI helps healthcare without taking away human judgment or treatment.
Doctors, clinics, and healthcare administrators in the U.S. should think carefully before using AI chatbots, especially if they are sold as mental health helpers. Important points include:
Hospitals and medical groups must also follow changing federal rules and state laws on AI in healthcare. Working closely with legal, medical, and IT experts helps create safe AI use policies.
Many psychologists and researchers have spoken about the risks of generic AI mental health chatbots. The lawsuits about Character.AI remind people that using chatbots as if they provide therapy without controls can cause serious problems. Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, points out the need for strong safety rules to protect the public now. The APA continues to ask the FTC to regulate AI chatbots to keep everyone safe.
At the same time, researchers like Stephen Schueller say that when AI chatbots are made carefully with clinical help and ethical rules, they can help fill gaps in mental health care. This is helpful especially during times or places with fewer therapists. The important lesson is to know the difference between unsafe generic chatbots and carefully tested, clinical AI tools that can do good work.
More healthcare providers in the U.S. are thinking about using AI tools. It is important to clearly separate AI used for office work from AI used for clinical mental health care. AI phone automation can make work more efficient without medical risks, but mental health chatbots need serious checking and rules before they are used.
Healthcare organizations should:
Administrators and IT managers have an important job to make sure AI improves healthcare without hurting ethics or care quality. With careful use and oversight, AI can help healthcare work better in the United States.
By understanding these risks, ethical challenges, and ways AI can help, healthcare workers can make smart choices about using technology. This helps keep patients safe and improves how medical offices work.
Generic AI chatbots can endanger public safety as they often present themselves as licensed therapists without the necessary training, leading to misinformation and possible harmful advice.
Two lawsuits were filed against Character.AI after a teenager attacked his parents and another died by suicide following interactions with the chatbot, highlighting potential risks.
The APA calls for regulatory safeguards to prevent misleading claims about chatbots impersonating therapists and emphasizes the need for informed public understanding.
Entertainment chatbots prioritize user engagement for profit and often lack empirical backing, while some mental health-focused chatbots utilize clinical research to promote well-being.
Trained therapists invest years in study and practice, providing a level of trust, expertise, and ethical responsibility that AI chatbots cannot replicate.
Transparency helps users recognize that they are interacting with AI and not a human therapist, which can be critical in mitigating false trust and potential harm.
Most mental health chatbots remain unregulated, with ongoing advocacy from the APA for stronger guidelines and legal frameworks to protect users.
Safe mental health chatbots should be based on psychological research, involve input from clinicians, undergo rigorous testing, and provide appropriate crisis referrals.
Unregulated chatbots can lead to inaccurate diagnoses, inappropriate treatments, privacy violations, and exploitative practices, especially affecting vulnerable populations.
The APA envisions AI tools responsibly developed and integrated into mental health care, grounded in psychological science and equipped with safeguards to protect users.
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