USA: Eating disorder group pulls chatbot sharing diet advice

A US organisation that supports people with eating disorders has suspended use of a chatbot after reports it shared harmful advice.

The National Eating Disorder Association (Neda) recently closed its live helpline and directed people seeking help to other resources, including the chatbot.

The AI bot, named "Tessa," has been taken down, the association said. It will be investigating reports about the bot's behaviour.

In recent weeks, some social media users posted screenshots of their experience with the chatbot online.

They said the bot continued to recommend behaviours like calorie restriction and dieting, even after it was told the user had an eating disorder.

For patients already struggling with stigma around their weight, further encouragement to shed pounds can lead to disordered eating behaviours like bingeing, restricting or purging, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians.

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Source: BBC News, 2 June 2023