California Moves to Ban AI Chatbots From Acting as Therapists
A new California bill would stop AI chatbots from posing as therapists and require human oversight in mental health care.
As more people turn to AI chatbots for emotional support, California lawmakers are stepping in to set limits. A new bill aims to stop AI from pretending to be a licensed therapist.
What the bill does
Senate Bill 903, also called the Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act, would create rules for how AI can be used in mental health care. In simple terms, a bill is a proposed law that must be approved before it becomes official.
The bill would:
- Ban companion chatbots (AI programs designed to chat like a friend) from offering psychotherapy.
- Allow AI to help human therapists, but not make treatment decisions on its own.
- Require a licensed clinician's oversight and patient consent.
- Protect therapy data while exempting peer support, religious counseling, research, and government-approved medical tools.
The bill is moving quickly through California's government:
- Passed the Senate in May by a 39-0 vote.
- Cleared two Assembly committees (17-0 and 14-1).
- Passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee 13-0 on August 13.
Why lawmakers are worried
Bill author Senator Steve Padilla said AI simply cannot replace the skills and training of human therapists. Recent research supports these concerns:
- A June survey found 77% of psychologists had patients using AI for mental health.
- Studies showed chatbots can reinforce delusions by agreeing too much with users, creating an "echo chamber of one" without real-world feedback.
Not everyone agrees. Tech industry group TechNet warns that requiring a human clinician could slow down care, especially since many California counties already face shortages of mental health workers.
Bottom line: California is trying to balance safety with access. The bill wants AI to assist — not replace — human therapists, while people increasingly rely on chatbots for emotional support.
This is an AI-generated summary. Read the original article at: https://decrypt.co/375725/california-bill-ban-ai-chatbots-therapy-mental-health