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AI Chatbot Therapists Lack Ethics, Study Finds
Ethical Breaches by AI Chatbot Therapists Highlighted
A recent Brown University study indicates that Artificial Intelligence (AI) large language models (LLMs), increasingly integrated into the mental health industry, routinely breach ethical standards for mental health. These violations include professional codes of conduct set by the American Psychological Association (APA). The researchers argue that mental health support, particularly psychotherapy, cannot be approached as a formulaic computational task due to its demand for strict adherence to ethical standards, which LLMs are prone to violating in practice.
Rapid Growth of AI Mental Health Market Amid Concerns
The AI-powered mental health care sector is a growth industry, projected to reach a market size of USD 9.12 billion by 2033. Companies like Woebot Health and HEADSPACE HEALTH are pioneering this field. Globally, there is an increasing openness to consulting LLMs like ChatGPT for mental health support. A February 2026 study involving 31,000 adults across 35 countries showed that 42% of American, 63% of Japanese, and 86% of Chinese respondents would use AI as a mental health advisor. Given these rapid technology adoption trends, Brown University researchers aimed to uncover the risks associated with using LLM counselors for psychotherapy and how these can be incorporated into mental health codes of conduct.
*Source: Psychology Today (2026-05-28)*
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