Rank 17 of 17

AI therapists

An AI giving therapy, counselling or mental health care, advertising itself as a licensed mental health professional, or standing in for one.

53

on the Fear Index

Bills36

Lobbying filings45

News1

Wikipedia329

The receipts

329Wikipedia views on this fear in the last 30 days

1news articles about it in the last 30 days

36bills, resolutions, rules and orders cite it since January 2025, in 23 states and Puerto Rico

42new government controls written into those bills

45federal lobbying filings name it, past year

In their own words

The fear as each bill's official summary or text states it, and the controls the same bill would create.

“The act prohibits an operator from stating that any output data provided by a conversational artificial intelligence service is provided by, endorsed by, or equivalent to services provided by certain licensed or certified professionals”
HB 1263, ColoradoPassedID checks for usersLabel or AI noticeUse limitsColorado Attorney General
“A person may not provide, advertise or otherwise offer therapy or psychotherapy services, including through the use of Internet-based artificial intelligence, to the public unless the therapy or psychotherapy services are provided by a licensed professional.”
LD 2082, MainePassedLabel or AI noticeNew agency powersUse limitsMaine mental health licensing boards
“The chatbot shall not represent that the chatbot is a licensed professional, as described in the act, or that the chatbot provides certain professional services”
SB 1455, MissouriNot passedID checks for usersLabel or AI noticeUse limitsMissouri Attorney General
“can or will provide mental health therapy or help a user manage or treat mental health conditions”
HB 452, UtahPassedLabel or AI noticeNew agency powersUse limitsUtah Division of Consumer Protection
“a regulated professional shall not use an AI system to provide, direct, or guide psychotherapy, clinical intervention, counseling, diagnosis, treatment planning”
HB 1195, ColoradoPassedLabel or AI noticeUse limitsColorado Department of Regulatory Agencies

What it's buying

The government controls written into the bills that cite this fear.

Who benefits

Agencies and officials these bills would hand new power, by number of bills.

1Missouri Attorney GeneralAttorney generalmost common control: Use limits2bills
2Colorado Attorney GeneralAttorney generalmost common control: ID checks for users1bill
3Colorado Department of Regulatory AgenciesAgencymost common control: Label or AI notice1bill
4Colorado Division of InsuranceAgencymost common control: Mandatory reporting1bill
5California health care professional licensing boardsAgencymost common control: Use limits1bill

Everyone else lobbying

Companies, trade groups, think tanks, unions and other groups whose lobbying filings name this fear, past year.

1AHIPTrade group4 filings
2Association of American Medical CollegesLobbying client4 filings
3Alliance of Community Health PlansLobbying client4 filings
4Advocate Health (Fka Advocate Aurora Health, Inc.)Lobbying client4 filings
5National Fraternal Order of PoliceLobbying client4 filings
6Health Innovation AllianceLobbying client4 filings

Money, bills and attention

Money on filings naming it

Bills citing it

Wikipedia views

Each dot is 5 bills. Sources: lobbying filings on LDA.gov that name this fear, the bills that cite it, and Wikipedia readership of its articles.

Latest on this fear

The bills

The ones carrying the most controls, first.

PS 1297, Puerto RicoNot passedPara crear la “Ley para Regular los Chatbots de Salud Mental e Inteligencia Artificial Terapéutica en Puerto Rico”, a los fines de establecer normas sobre…Label or AI noticeNew agency powersUse limitsRead it on sutra.oslpr.org
HB 1263, ColoradoPassedConversational Artificial Intelligence Service Operator RequirementsID checks for usersLabel or AI noticeUse limitsRead it on leg.colorado.gov
LD 2082, MainePassedAn Act To Regulate The Use Of Artificial Intelligence In Providing Certain Mental Health ServicesLabel or AI noticeNew agency powersUse limitsRead it on legislature.maine.gov
SB 1455, MissouriNot passedCreates provisions relating to artificial intelligence chatbotsID checks for usersLabel or AI noticeUse limitsRead it on senate.mo.gov
HB 452, UtahPassedArtificial Intelligence AmendmentsLabel or AI noticeNew agency powersUse limitsRead it on le.utah.gov
HB 1195, ColoradoPassedPsychotherapy Artificial Intelligence RestrictionsLabel or AI noticeUse limitsRead it on leg.colorado.gov
HB 1139, ColoradoPassedUse of Artificial Intelligence in Health CareMandatory reportingUse limitsRead it on leg.colorado.gov
HB 324, AlabamaNot passedArtificial intelligence; age verification systems required for chatbots, safeguard protocols required, therapy chatbot requirements established, private right…ID checks for usersUse limitsRead it on alison.legislature.state.al.us, PDF
HB 2787, PennsylvaniaNot passedAn Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in school safety and security, providing for prohibition of…Use limitsRead it on palegis.us
HF 3893, MinnesotaNot passedUse of artificial intelligence in psychotherapy services regulated, and civil penalties provided.Use limitsRead it on revisor.mn.gov

All 36 bills citing it, with filters