AMA calls for stricter regulation of healthcare AI chatbots

In April 2026, the American Medical Association (AMA) officially requested that Congress implement stricter regulations on AI-powered mental health chatbots.

While these tools aim to expand access to care, the AMA warns that their rapid development has created dangerous gaps in oversight.

Key concerns include the failure of chatbots to identify crises like self-harm, the spread of clinical misinformation, and the risk of users forming unhealthy emotional dependencies on software.

Furthermore, privacy remains a major issue, as many apps lack HIPAA-standard data protections.

They are calling for transparency mandates, where bots must disclose their non-human identity, and strict FDA oversight for any tool that functions as a medical device.

As AI continues to evolve, these guardrails are essential to protect the most vulnerable users.