An AI chatbot for eating disorders gives harmful responses

An artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot called Tessa, programmed to deliver an interactive program called Body Positive developed by Ellen Fitzsimmons-Craft Ph.D. and other eating disorder experts, was taken off the National Eating Disorder Association’s (NEDA) website after users discovered it was offering potentially harmful information about eating disorders.
On various social media sites, users posted numerous examples of advice that was not consistent with best practices in eating disorders treatment and prevention.
Some advice the chatbot offered appeared to promote additional eating disordered behavior.
In a statement posted to social media on May 30, NEDA said that Tessa “may have given information that was harmful and unrelated to ...