California lawmakers are pushing to stop AI from being used as a full-on therapist as interest in chatbot-based mental healthcare has skyrocketed in recent years.
Under Senate Bill 903, companies would be banned from advertising chatbots as therapy, and AI systems themselves would not be allowed to make therapeutic decisions without review from a licensed professional. The bill would also require patients’ permission for health providers to use AI to record therapy sessions or triage care.
“AI has many upsides, and the possibility to improve the lives of Californians across the state, but only if we ensure it is used responsibly,” state Senator Steve Padilla of San Diego, author of the legislation, said earlier this year when introducing the measure.
“AI algorithms are not fit to take over the job of human therapists, who have skills and training that AI is incapable of replicating,” he added. “We must act and place guardrails that prevent AI algorithms from being deployed in a way that is potentially harmful to patients.”
Critics of the bill say it will stifle legitimate uses of AI and could harm the ability of health providers to use AI tools to direct patients toward treatment.
Source: The Independent, 10 August 2026
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