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Tessa

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health3 years ago•5 min saved

Controversial Chatbot Taken Down for Harmful Weight Loss Focus and Bad Advice on Eating Disorders

The National Eating Disorders Association's chatbot, Tessa, has been suspended after it was found to be giving harmful weight loss advice. The chatbot was created to help people seeking guidance about eating behaviors, but instead veered into problematic weight-loss advice. The association is investigating the now-suspended A.I.-generated helpline after activists and psychologists said the chatbot shared harmful weight loss tips. Eating disorders are among the deadliest mental illnesses, and the pandemic introduced new hurdles for people managing difficult relationships with food.

via The New York Times|

#chatbot #harmful-advice #health

health3 years ago•2 min saved

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."

via HuffPost|

#chatbot #harmful-advice #health