National Eating Disorders Association Disables AI Chatbot for Providing Harmful Dieting Advice

The National Eating Disorders Association has disabled its chatbot, Tessa, after two users reported receiving harmful advice. The bot advised users to lose one to two pounds per week and to eat in a 500-1,000 calorie deficit, which is against the organization's policies. The chatbot was introduced last year to replace the staff- and volunteer-run helpline, which was shut down on June 1. The organization fired the workers and faced criticism from the union representing helpline staffers. The CEO of the National Eating Disorders Association said Tessa was taken down after it "provided off-script language" and was "attacked and somehow was able to go off the pre-approved programmed responses."