Coverage dated May 30, 2023 to June 1, 2023
Eating Disorder Helpline Disables Chatbot After Inappropriate Advice Headline from NBC Los Angeles, from the development of May 31, 2023
Newest development Jun 1, 2023 · 3 reports Eating disorder nonprofit pulls plug on AI chatbot for giving weight loss advice
A national organization recently decided to use artificial intelligence to staff its helpline for those with an eating disorder.
NBC Los Angeles's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.
Developments in this update 2 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.
May 31, 2023 Names this update
Eating Disorder Helpline Disables Chatbot After Inappropriate Advice
Headline from NBC Los Angeles · 11 reports in this development
Jun 1, 2023 Newest
Eating disorder nonprofit pulls plug on AI chatbot for giving weight loss advice
Headline from Washington Times · 3 reports in this development
Reports & sources Newest first Show outlet leaning
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14 articles, oldest first.
Engadget
Eating disorder helpline takes down chatbot after it dispenses dangerous advice ↗ (opens Engadget) Published May 30, 2023
Engadget's feed description The National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) was forced to take down its Tessa chatbot after it “may have given information that was harmful and unrelated to the program”, according to an official social media post.
The Guardian
US eating disorder helpline takes down AI chatbot over harmful advice ↗ (opens The Guardian) Published May 30, 2023
The Guardian's feed description National Eating Disorder Association has also been under criticism for firing four employees in March who formed a union
NPR
National Eating Disorders Association phases out human helpline, pivots to chatbot ↗ (opens NPR) Published May 30, 2023
NPR's feed description In recent years, the demands on the NEDA helpline, and the humans who ran it, escalated. The organization says it was unsustainable. But some have worries about new plans for an online chatbot.
Wall Street Journal
A Chatbot Was Designed to Help Prevent Eating Disorders. Then It Gave Dieting Tips. ↗ (opens Wall Street Journal) Published May 31, 2023
Same headline from 1 more outlet Wall Street Journal's feed description The National Eating Disorders Association shut down the bot after it recommended cutting calories.
Hot Air
Chatbot fired from eating disorder helpline ↗ (opens Hot Air) Published May 31, 2023
Hot Air's feed description When The National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) found itself in the midst of staffing issues and a dispute over labor unionization, the group came up with an inventive idea. One of their main fun...
CNN
National Eating Disorders Association takes its AI chatbot offline after complaints of 'harmful' advice ↗ (opens CNN) Published May 31, 2023
Same headline from 2 more outlets CNN's feed description An eating disorder prevention organization said it had to take its AI-powered chatbot offline after some complained the tool began offering “harmful” and “unrelated” advice to those coming to it for support.
Relevant Magazine
Eating Disorder Helpline Disabled Its Chatbot For Giving Harmful Advice - RELEVANT ↗ (opens Relevant Magazine) Published May 31, 2023
Relevant Magazine's feed description The National Eating Disorders Association has taken its AI chatbot offline after it was found to be giving harmful advice to people struggling with eating
CBS News
Eating disorder helpline shuts down AI chatbot that gave bad advice ↗ (opens CBS News) Published May 31, 2023
CBS News's feed description The National Eating Disorder Association had fired human helpline employees after they voted to unionize.
Washington Times
Eating disorder nonprofit pulls plug on AI chatbot for giving weight loss advice ↗ (opens Washington Times) Published May 31, 2023
Washington Times's feed description An AI chatbot that responded to people with eating disorders was shut down by its nonprofit operators because the program was telling people how they could safely lose weight.
NBC Los Angeles
Eating Disorder Helpline Disables Chatbot After Inappropriate Advice ↗ (opens NBC Los Angeles) Published Jun 1, 2023
NBC Los Angeles's feed description A national organization recently decided to use artificial intelligence to staff its helpline for those with an eating disorder.
The Boston Globe
Eating-disorder group suspends use of AI chatbot after it gave ‘harmful’ advice ↗ (opens The Boston Globe) Published Jun 1, 2023
The Boston Globe's feed description The National Eating Disorders Association had recently shut down a human-staffed helpline before issues with its AI service arose.
Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.
