NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — As more people turn to artificial intelligence for advice including emotional support, Tennessee lawmakers are stepping in.
A new state law makes it illegal for any artificial intelligence system to advertise or claim it can act as a licensed mental health professional.
Supporters said that kind of claim can be misleading and, in some cases, dangerous.
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“It’s so much different when you can sit across from someone,” said Nathan Miller, Senior Vice President of Operations at Volunteer Behavioral Health. “When you can see them and they have lived those experiences, that human connection is something you just cannot replicate.”
Under the law, violations will be treated as unfair or deceptive business practices under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act. That opens the door to legal action, fines, and other penalties.
Those penalties can reach up to $5,000 per violation.
Mental health advocates said the risk is especially high for younger users.
“I think teens are the most at risk,” Miller said. “The brain is not fully developed until the early 20s. Decision-making, impulse control, all of that is still forming.”
There is also concern about how artificial intelligence could respond in critical moments.
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“And heaven forbid an AI tells someone something that pushes them over the edge,” Miller said.
The law does not regulate artificial intelligence systems directly. Instead, it targets how they are marketed to the public.
Gov. Bill Lee signed the measure into law, and it takes effect July 1.
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