Artificial intelligence is good at a lot of things, but one thing Illinois has decided it shouldn’t be doing is therapy. The Prairie State has become the first in the nation to pass legislation preventing AI from providing counseling services.
The Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act, HB 1806, passed unanimously in the state House and Senate and signed Friday by Gov. JB Pritzker, takes effect immediately. It bars AI chatbots or tools from making “therapeutic decisions” or “therapeutic communication.” It also regulates use of AI by human mental health professionals, stating that it may only be used for “supplementary support” like managing appointments or other administrative tasks. Companies or individuals who break this law will face fines of $10,000 per violation.
“This legislation stands as our commitment to safeguarding the well-being of our residents by ensuring that mental health services are delivered by trained experts who prioritize patient care above all else,” said Secretary of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Mario Treto Jr.
