Eating Disorder Group Disables Harmful AI Chatbot.

The National Eating Disorder Association (Neda) has suspended the use of its chatbot, Tessa, after reports that it shared harmful advice. Social media users posted screenshots of their experience with the bot, which continued to recommend behaviours like calorie restriction and dieting, even after being told the user had an eating disorder. Neda CEO Liz Thompson said the advice the chatbot shared "is against our policies and core beliefs as an eating disorder organisation". The association had planned to close its human-staffed helpline on 1 June 2023, and dismissed the staffers and volunteers who had maintained the information and treatment options helpline, which was launched in 1999.