Illinois becomes the first state to regulate the use of AI for mental health services.
Illinois is officially staking its claim in the wild west of AI regulation. In a landmark move, state lawmakers have passed a bill banning AI from acting as a standalone therapist and placing firm guardrails on how mental health professionals can use AI to support care. Governor JB Pritzker signed the bill into law on Aug. 1.
The legislation, dubbed the Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act, was introduced by Rep. Bob Morgan and makes one thing clear: only licensed professionals can deliver therapeutic or psychotherapeutic services to another human being.
Meh. They limit licenses to assure monopoly. I mean granted its similar with alcohol. I get the state needs money but I don’t view legalization as about funding as much as rights. I have to say though that I wish there was severe restrictions on advertising. I actually would like advertising to be restricted to other “adult” industries. So no billboards or ads in papers or online except in the other adult locations. So inside their physical locations and websites. I would also like to not allow online things unless they have a physical presence in the state and they should have to take responsibility for the amount of gambling for a user the same as they would for a physical person at the physical location.