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As AI chatbots become ubiquitous, states are looking to put up guardrails around AI and mental health before its too late. With millions of people turning to AI for advice, chatbots have begun posing as free, instant therapists a phenomenon that, right now, remains almost completely unregulated. In the vacuum of regulation on AI, states are stepping in to quickly erect guardrails where the federal government hasnt. Earlier this month, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed a bill into law that limits the use of AI in therapy services. The bill, the Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act, blocks the use of AI to provide mental health and therapeutic decision-making, while still allowing licensed mental health professionals to employ AI for administrative tasks like note taking. The risks inherent in non-human algorithms doling out mental health guidance are myriad, from encouraging recovering addicts to have a small hit of meth to engaging young users so successfully that they withdraw from their peers. One recent study found that nearly a third of teens find conversations with AI as satisfying or more satisfying than real-life interactions with friends. States pick up the slack, again In Illinois, the new law is designed to protect patients from unregulated and unqualified AI products, while also protecting the jobs of Illinois thousands of qualified behavioral health providers, according to the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR), which coordinated with lawmakers on the legislation. The people of Illinois deserve quality healthcare from real, qualified professionals and not computer programs that pull information from all corners of the internet to generate responses that harm patients, IDFPR Secretary Mario Treto, Jr said. Violations of the law can result in a $10,000 fine. Illinois has a history of successfully regulating new technologies. The states Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA), which governs the use of facial recognition and other biometric systems for Illinois residents, has tripped up many tech companies accustomed to operating with regulatory impunity. That includes Meta, a company thats now all-in on AI, including chatbots like the ones that recently made chats some users believed to be private public in an open feed. Earlier this year, Nevada enacted its own set of new regulations on the use of AI in mental health services, blocking AI chatbots from representing themselves as capable of or qualified to provide mental or behavioral health care. The law also prevents schools from using AI to act as a counselor, social worker or psychologist or from performing other duties related to the mental health of students. Earlier this year, Utah added its own restrictions around the mental health applications of AI chatbots, though its regulations dont go as far as Illinois or Nevada. The risks are serious In February, the American Psychological Association met with U.S. regulators to discuss the dangers of AI chatbots pretending to be therapists. The group presented its concerns to an FTC panel, citing a case last year of a 14-year-old in Florida who died by suicide after becoming obsessed with a chatbot made bt the company Character.AI. They are actually using algorithms that are antithetical to what a trained clinician would do, APA Chief Executive Arthur C. Evans Jr. told The New York Times. Our concern is that more and more people are going to be harmed. People are going to be misled, and will misunderstand what good psychological care is. Were still learning more about those risks. A recent study out of Stanford found that chatbots marketing themselves for therapy often stigmatized users dealing with serious mental health issues and issued responses that could be inappropriate or even dangerous. LLM-based systems are being used as companions, confidants, and therapists, and some people see real benefits, co-author and Stanford Assistant Professor Nick Haber said. But we find significant risks, and I think its important to lay out the more safety-critical aspects of therapy and to talk about some of these fundamental differences.
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E-Commerce
For almost 20 years, the Honey Deuce cocktail has reigned as the undisputed drink champion of the U.S. Open. But this year, a challenger is stepping onto the court, and its serving up a competitive dose of summer refreshment. Behold, the Watermelon Slice. The Watermelon Slice is a limited-edition beverage designed by IHG Hotels & Resorts. It will be available at the U.S. Opens venue, New York Citys Arthur Ashe stadium, starting at the beginning of the tournament on August 18. Attendees will be able to grab the fruity cocktail for a head-turning $39 onsite at IHGs Racquet Bar, as well as at select IHG hotel properties in NYC. [Photo: courtesy IHG] For IHG, this isnt any old cocktail. Selling a custom beverage at the U.S. Open represents a coveted advertising opportunity, given that the branded cups are sure to be captured on the big screen and on countless Instagram accounts throughout the tournament. This year, Grey Goose vodka will be returning for the 19th consecutive year as the U.S. Opens official vodka sponsor, a title that comes with the privilege of serving the tournament’s signature cocktail, the $23 Honey Deuce. The Honey Deucewhich combines Grey Goose vodka, lemonade, and a touch of Chambord raspberry liqueur, topped with tennis ball-esque scoops of honeydew melonhas been pictured in the hands of such stars as Taylor Swift, Serena Williams, and Travis Kelce. Its a billboard in drink form, which raked in more than $10 million in total sales last year before the tennis matches were even finished, and has inspired its own line of merch. To go racquet-to-racquet with such an iconic beverage, the Watermelon Slice will have to give a truly outstanding performance. The Honey Deuce at the 2023 US Open. [Photo: Grey Goose] Battle of the two beverages The Watermelon Slice is described by a press release as a refreshing blend of Moët & Chandon, watermelon juice, elderflower liqueur, and lime, garnished with a signature watermelon wedge. Fans are looking for something vibrant and easy to enjoy between pointsnothing too heavy, but packed with just the right flavors. The Watermelon Slice delivers that, says Connor Smith, VP of masterbrand strategy at IHG. [Photo: courtesy IHG] Like the Honey Deuce, which is named for the deuce point when players are tied at 40-40, the Watermelon Slice also got its name through a tennis reference. A slice, in the tennis world, is a shot that uses a sharp slashing movement to give the ball a difficult-to-hit backspin or sidespin. However, the Watermelon Slice stands apart in its unique collectible cup design (which may, in part, provide the justification behind its hefty price tag). Its served in a stem glassbranded with the IHG Hotels & Resort logo, of coursedesigned to resemble a tennis ball. In essence, its the much classier version of eating ice cream out of a helmet cup at a baseball game. We started with a clear vision: the glass should be as instantly recognizable as a tennis ball but still feel premium and functional for service, Smith explains. The biggest challenge was achieving that perfect pop of neon yellow (or green depending on what color you think a tennis ball is) without compromising the feel of the glass in your hand. We worked closely with our partners to get the shape, color, and tactile finish just right. A large part of the intrigue surrounding both the Honey Deuce and the Watermelon Slice are their exclusivity: Both cocktails are strictly available during the course of the tournament. As to whether the Watermelon Slice will be returning in years to come, Smith says, Youll just have to wait and see.
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E-Commerce
Amazon is rolling out a service where its Prime members can now order their blueberries and milk at the same time as basic items like batteries and T-shirtsand get them within hours. The online juggernaut said Wednesday that customers in more than 1,000 cities and townsincluding Raleigh, North Carolina; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Columbus, Ohionow have access to fresh groceries with its free same-day delivery service on orders over $25 for Prime members, with plans to reach over 2,300 cities and towns by the end of the year. Amazon called the move one of the most significant grocery expansions for the online retailer as it introduces thousands of perishable items into its existing logistics network. The expansion is expected to put more pressure on grocery delivery services offered by such rivals as Walmart, Kroger, and Target, which all saw their shares take a hit in early trading on Wednesday. Amazon’s shares rose 1%. Amazon said that if an order doesnt meet the minimum, members can still choose same-day delivery for a $2.99 fee. For customers without a Prime membership, the service is available with a $12.99 fee, regardless of order size. In the past, Prime subscribers grocery orders were fulfilled through Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods Market. Prime members pay $14.99 monthly or $139 annually. Amazon launched its Prime membership in 2005, and it has become the gold standard for subscription services, with a slew of perks including unlimited streaming with Prime Video and discounts at Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh. Walmart, which launched its membership program called Walmart+ in 2020, has been racing to add more benefits. It costs $12.95 per month or $98 per year. Depending on members’ location and availability, Walmart members can schedule same-day delivery for their groceries, including perishables. Were continuously innovating to make grocery shopping simpler, faster, and more affordable for our customers, especially Prime members, said Doug Herrington, CEO of Worldwide Amazon Stores, in a statement. By introducing fresh groceries into our Same-Day Delivery service, were creating a quick and easy experience for customers. Herrington noted that customers can order milk alongside electronics; oranges, apples, and potatoes with a mystery novel; and frozen pizza at the same time as tools for their next home improvement projectand check out with one cart and have everything delivered to their doorstep within hours. The company first tested the service in Phoenix last year, and then added Orlando, Florida, and Kansas City, Missouri, earlier this year. Amazon noted that many of its customers were first-time Amazon grocery shoppers who now return to shop twice as often with the same-day delivery service, compared with those who didn’t purchase food. It also noted that based on early sales, strawberries now regularly knock AirPods out of the top five bestsellers of all products sold, while bananas, Honeycrisp apples, limes, and avocados round out the top 10 best-selling perishable grocery items in shoppers’ same-day delivery carts. Amazon said it generated over $100 billion in gross sales of groceries and household essentials last year, not including sales from Whole Foods Market and Amazon Fresh. In June, Amazon said it was investing more than $4 billion to triple the size of its delivery network by 2026, with a focus on small towns and rural communities across the country. It also noted that it’s using artificial intelligence to help it predict local customer preferences so that it can stock popular items alongside items targeted for specific communities. By Anne D’Innocenzio, AP retail writer
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