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U.S. states and agencies move to regulate AI chatbots in mental health and child welfare
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families announced $6 million in grant funding for states, territories and tribal governments to pilot predictive‑risk AI tools aimed at improving child‑welfare decision‑making. At the same time, AI‑driven mental‑health chatbots are being used by a growing share of the public. A multinational AXA‑Ipsos survey of 19 000 adults in 18 countries found 61 % rely on AI for mental‑health support, with usage exceeding 80 % in several Asian markets, and 48.7 % of adults with mental‑health disorders reported using such bots in the past year. Concern over safety and privacy has prompted legislative action: five U.S. states plan to impose restrictions on AI therapy chatbots starting July 2026, and a New Jersey poll showed nearly 60 % of residents favor state regulation of AI mental‑health advice. Reuters‑style reporting also highlighted broader attitudes toward AI in health care, noting that only 8 % of Americans trust AI to manage appointments or analyze medical records, while clinicians increasingly see AI as a decision‑support tool requiring a “human in the loop.” Commercial ventures such as the “Friend 2.0” AI pendant, marketed for companionship, underline the expanding consumer market for AI companionship despite ethical concerns. Together, these developments illustrate a rapid expansion of AI applications in social services and health, accompanied by growing calls for oversight and responsible integration.
Entities
AXA · ChatGPT · Friend · India · New Jersey · Rutgers University · Rutgers‑Eagleton Poll · U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Nearly 60 % of New Jersey adults support regulating AI chatbots that provide mental‑health advice. www.insurancejournal.com · www.newswise.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] A survey of 19 000 adults in 18 countries found 61 % use AI for mental‑health matters, with the share exceeding 80 % in some Asian countries. www.orissapost.com · www.vijesti.me · www.expreso.ec
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Friend 2.0 AI pendant costs $249 and offers a single, non‑adjustable persona. gizmodo.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Only 8 % of Americans trust AI to manage appointments or analyze medical records, according to a 2025 KFF poll. dnyuz.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Five U.S. states will enforce new restrictions on AI therapy chatbots starting July 2026. www.theedadvocate.org
- [○ 1 SOURCE] In July 2025, AI assistant apps were downloaded 220 million times globally, and 60 million in the first half of 2025, an 88 % year‑on‑year increase. www.psychomedia.qc.ca
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families is offering $6 million in grants to states, territories, and tribal governments to pilot predictive‑risk AI,‑ www.freedomproject.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] 48.7 % of adults with mental‑health disorders reported using AI chatbots for support in the past year. www.psychomedia.qc.ca