The decision is part of a larger trend: many mental health organizations and companies are struggling to provide services and care in response to a sharp escalation in demand, and some are turning to chatbots and AI, despite the fact that clinicians are still trying to figure out how to effectively deploy them, and for what conditions.

The research team that developed Tessa has published studies showing it can help users improve their body image. But they’ve also released studies showing the chatbot may miss red flags (like users saying they plan to starve themselves) and could even inadvertently reinforce harmful behavior.

Wells, K. (2023, May 31). National Eating Disorders Association phases out human helpline, pivots to chatbot. NPR. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/05/31/1179244569/national-eating-disorders-association-phases-out-human-helpline-pivots-to-chatbo