The Eating Disorder Center fired staff and brought in an AI – it gave starvation advice

The wave of artificial intelligence is sinking over us and in the middle of the wave you start to see the limits of the new technology. Artificial intelligence, as it works now, does not appear to be a universal solution for companies and organizations that want to save money or make organizations more efficient. Here is a recent example of where artificial intelligence has not been useful, As noted by the Guardian.

It is related to the National Eating Disorders Association (NADA), i.e. the National Center for Eating Disorders in the USA. The organization had to remove its new ‘Tessa’ chatbot after it allegedly gave harmful advice to people seeking help.

activist Sharon Maxwelll – who was sick himself – writes on Instagram That Tessa gave her “healthy diet tips” such as reducing her calorie deficit by 500-1000 per day (women typically need 2000 calories and men 2500 per day) and to measure and weigh herself weekly to control her weight loss.

Nada chose the AI ​​robot now. The organization writes the following in a statement:

“It has been brought to our attention that the current version of the Tessa Chatbot, which runs our body positivity program, may have provided information that was harmful and unrelated to the program.”

Nada came under fire two months ago after the organization fired four employees who worked with the organization’s helpline after they organized a union.