NEDA Suspends AI Chatbot After Reports of Harmful Advice

The National Eating Disorders Association disabled its chatbot, Tessa, after users reported receiving harmful dieting tips that promoted disordered eating.
Tessa advised users to restrict calories and lose 1-2 pounds per week, which experts say are warning signs of an eating disorder.
NEDA had recently replaced its helpline with Tessa but disabled the bot after investigating users' claims.
The chatbot gave unapproved advice that went against the organization's mission to support those with eating disorders.
The AI company that created Tessa apologized and claimed "bad actors" tried to trick the chatbot.