2 chapters across the catalog
The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) replaced its human-staffed helpline with a chatbot named "Tessa" after employees voted to unionize. The chatbot was quickly taken down after providing harmful advice, such as recommending calorie counting and weight loss to individuals with eating disorders. The incident is cited as a failure of AI to replace nuanced human support in sensitive health contexts.
National Eating Disorders Association Replaces Staff with Chatbot
The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) fired its entire helpline staff and replaced them with a chatbot named "Tessa" shortly after the workers voted to unionize. While the organization claims the chatbot provides effective therapeutic techniques, critics argue it cannot replace the "listening ear" of a human volunteer. The hosts suggest this is a preview of how AI will be used to bypass labor unions.
